“The question is not what you look at, but what you see.” - Henry David Thoreau
It’s been a while. How have y’all been? How were your holidays? I hope they were good.
How’s the new year been so far? It’s been cold in the northeast, and as far down as Florida and Texas. Snow in Pensacola, even.
So, SNAFU, yes? What fun!
My mother used to tell me “if you’ve nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” This admonition, of course, was offered mostly after I’d said something she considered not very nice. Which, as an adolescent, was often (surprise.)
Mom’s been gone a very long time (it will be 30 years this Spring) so I can’t ask if her advice would also extend to the written word. I will assume it does, or that it should.
The world would be much better off if more than a few adults, corporations and institutions would heed her advice but since I did and do not, I have little hope for that becoming a thing.
I am determined to make that my reality, though.
My recent Caribbean interregnum was preceded by logging off of Facebook, and my sole 2025 goal is to reduce my social media exposure, especially to Meta-owned sites and platforms. Not to Substack necessarily, but I will no longer actively participate in the chatter through the Notes and Chats functions.
The next few years are going to be hard to get through. It will take determination, strength and an iron constitution to ignore the noise and focus on the vital; on getting stuff done to counteract the cruel, malign or indifferent actions that are on tap nationally and locally.
This is likely to be my last full year of employment. My organization some big goals to achieve. I am determined to get us there. When we do, we will make a huge difference in the lives of many.
I will keep chronicling our progress on these pages. We are closing on two home sales in the next week, continuing our development of two more for sale this year, and will be developing our next organizational home. I’ll keep you posted here.
But in 2025 less will be more, in terms of how I choose to engage in the toxic mosh pit that is our public discourse.
It’s time to get to work.
🤫
Stay warm! Stay sane (don’t read the news). Listen to the birds.
Welcome back!