2026, embrace the change!

As a new year is about to start, I saw a friend on Facebook state he is reflecting before he looks at resolutions. Honestly, you can't move forward unless you know where you have been. As I reflect on this past year, it was not good or bad. The reality is that it was what it was meant to be. I was given time to heal physically and mentally. The year gave me opportunities that I never thought I would have and an achievement that gave me confidence to move forward with what I want to do. I can say this past year was fulfilling and put me in a position to do what I have wanted to do for a long time. That being said, this year is going to be difficult and challenging as I pursue the goal of working for myself. My next book is aimed to release in March, and other projects through the year. I am embracing the changes and challenges.

This past year I experienced surgery for the first time. I had a tear in the labrum of my left shoulder as well as damage to my rotator cuff. I spoke to many people who had surgery on them. For me it was an eight-month recovery process. I could not use my arm for almost four months. Two of those months were in a sling. The interesting thing about that time was the experience I was able to use in my writing. I related to my characters and anyone who has had an amputation done. The nerve blocker I was given numbed my left arm for two and almost three days. Being humbled in this situation was a change in itself, as I was not able to do things myself. A number of daily tasks I had to learn and quickly adapt, but I also had to learn to ask for help. That is not always an easy task for me. As I move forward into this year, I am asking for help more and relying on the knowledge of others who can help me. I imagine a lot of people struggle to ask for help, and as stubborn as I am, I am realizing how important asking for help is.

My physical ability has changed, and I mean that I am not as young as I used to be. I am still fit but not as fit as before the surgery. I had to make a choice as to what was beneficial for me regarding my job. If I was to go back to that job, I risked reinjuring the shoulder and maybe even worse. As I did physical therapy and started to put strength back into it, I knew it wasn't the same. Even the cold weather over the past week brings a little discomfort. I have always worked in physical jobs and been mobile. The thought of changing that and not having a steady paycheck was very scary. However, the thought of independence and doing what I love was exciting and still is exciting. The change of building a business and being self-supporting has me focused now and determined to do the very best I can. The physical wear and tear on my body has shown itself, and today I accept it for what it is. To me it is a new door and chapter opening up for me, which is scary. The change for me is that I'm not living in that fear, I use it to stay focused.

This past year I entered my first book into an author of the year award contest. Yes, there is debate about things like this, but I wanted to do it. My friends showed up and voted for me online, and my book was selected as a finalist. To have a chance to go to Los Angeles and attend a red-carpet event was amazing. I sat at a table with an Emmy award winning director and have now secured an interview on CBS 5 Arizona in a few months. Sometimes a major change is actually doing something and taking action. If I had not entered my book, it would not have been selected, and I had not had the experiences I have had. I even sponsored a Mazda race team for a race weekend at Road Atlanta. That has also opened up opportunities for me to write and publish and promote. I will be doing a similar sponsorship at the end of the month at Daytona International speedway. This is also opening my creative juices for new projects.

As I embrace the changes in my life, I also pay attention to the lessons I have learned from the changes. I learned a lot about myself from my surgery and gained a different perspective. You are humbled in moments and times like that. You also learn who your friends are and who has your back. I have a lot of gratitude for the people in my life. Trusting people and asking for help has been a huge change for me, but I also found the right people to be in my life. So, I guess overall I am building off of the small changes I have made in order to grow. I'll close with a challenge to you and ask you to find the little changes that eventually make a big difference in your life. Something as simple as asking for help and doing the little things to take care of yourself build you up to the person you can be. They have made a difference in mine.