If you asked, I’d pretty quickly tell you that this year felt heavy.
But I’m pretty frustrated by that answer to be honest and I don’t really think it’s a totally fair response. That’s not to say that this year didn’t feel extremely heavy, but I do think there’s a bit more to it.
2023 will probably forever be marked by the heaviness of some of our closest people. It’s not mine to get into, nor does it really matter for this… but in a lot of ways, this year was a year for us to be the best secondary characters in other people’s stories that we could be. We had a ton of company this year and time with friends and family and I am very thankful for that.
In the mundane moments with our little crew, were some of the biggest joys we’ve had. Our little baby became a really fun, but challenging toddler. We went to the zoo on most of our off days. We listened to a lot of great new music and laughed a lot at Wylie’s antics as he learned how to talk more and be a little kid. This year was one of the first to feel really fast. I know it won’t slow down any time soon, either.
I think that in all the heaviness of the year, I learned how to find the joy and lean into my little family a bit better. I started to feel a lot more comfortable and confident in who I am becoming and lean into being the best husband and dad I can be. I felt everything happening around me, but learned how to be a bit more resilient. I will choose to have 2023 marked by watching Wylie start to grow up and searching for ways to have fun amidst the chaos with my little family.
Stuff that meant a ton to me in 2023:
“Oh, it's a little bit of everything,
It's the matador and the bull,
It's the suggested daily dosage,
It is the red moon when it's full.
All these psychics and these doctors,
They're all right and they're all wrong,
It's like trying to make out every word,
When they should simply hum along,
It's not some message written in the dark,
Or some truth that no one's seen,
It's a little bit of everything.”
New Music (no particular order):
Video Games:
Horizon Forbidden West
The Last of Us: Part 1
Age of Empires IV
Assassins Creed Mirage
Baldur’s Gate 3
Highlights / Photo Album:
January -
February -
March -
8th Anniversary Trip
Dawes, ATL.. March 3rd 
Dawes + Brad Paisley, Nashville… March 4th 
More Zoo Trips 
Played CountryFest, Forsyth… The only 2 pics I got 
Played CountryFest, Forsyth… The only 2 pics I got. 
This pic of Wylie 
John Mayer Solo Tour, March 27
April -
Started this Substack
May -
June -
July -
August -
Sept -
October -
November -
December -
All in all, it was a very full year. If you’re still here… I appreciate you taking the time to read about it. I’m planning on figuring out some rhythms that has me writing on here more but I’m thinking a bit more about being varied topically and trying to have less pressure around it except for frequency. We’ll see.
Looking forward to 2024. See you next time.