My brother Bob snapped this photo of me a few years back.  I was writing a blog about what writing is and I wanted to represent that theme with a creative use of photos.  This photo above, represents a kind of peace maybe found after I’ve solved some writing issue.  There’s a feeling of cautious optimism while looking forward to what the future holds.

The photos below represent what I often feel when I’m writing and re-writing and thinking of what to write, how to write, how to let go and let the flow take over, how not to be so controlling of words or ideas and just plain write instead of feeling twisted up.  And yet, this is part of the process, be it in writing or wherever you are in life’s journey (career, relationships, health, retirement, etc…)  It’s a battle – most things don’t come easily. But if we persist, put in the work, resist the urge to give in or give up, and hope for little miracles along the way, solutions can bubble to the surface.  When you begin to unwind and unravel what is not working and you see more clearly, nothing is more satisfying.

My brother also took this photo of me, which represents the writer looking at you, watching, listening and internally recording what he hopes to one day put to paper and onto the stage or screen.  This is what a writer does – observing those around you and then engaging in those observations when it comes time to create.

For those of you who are relatively new to my site, you can visit HERE to see more pictures like this on a blog I wrote about the writing process.

As I look forward to 2026, I would be remiss not to look back at 2025 and how it treated me (or how I treated it).

There is value in looking where you have come from.  This quote by Danish philosopher Søren Aabye Kierkegaard about looking forward, but also looking back at your life, brings home the point of what I’m contemplating as we say good bye 2025 and hello to 2026.

I understand that in 2025 I wasted a lot of time getting twisted in knots with my writing.  I did not allow it to breathe and it affected the creative process.  I understand that looking forward I must make a concerted effort to not allow, rejection, doubt and procrastination to monopolize time.  Leave your excuses behind, develop better habits and look forward.

I had two readings of my play WAVES in 2025.  You can click onto the FIRST READING and the SECOND READING and read about the people involved.  I’m grateful for the readings as they were formative in shaping and refining the script.  It’s also a pleasure to have your dialogue performed by actors and listening to their interpretation of the text.  More than anything, these readings were an exercise in listening.

WAVES has been rejected by several places in the first half of the year, but after the re-writes, I hope for little miracles along the way as I continue to send this baby out into the world.

As I look back at another script I began in 2025 called THE ROCKER, I’m disappointed that I haven’t been able to crack this play yet.  I’ve been stuck in the brainstorming phase, mostly because of fear, lack of focus, being too careful/precious and all things mentioned above about the wrong things monopolizing my time.

Don’t turn your back on reflections because there are great things to be learned and remembered looking backward (like those who we love that have passed).  But hold loosely to the painful moments – don’t let them define you.  Live life looking forward and hold strong to the things that bring you joy, laughter and hope.