Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Close to one year ago, I lost my full-time position of 20+ years. Since that day - December 28th, 2012 - I've done no paid work in my old field of voice-overs, production and editing. I had no confidence remaining concerning my skills. I had not only been let go, but all vestiges of my existence were utterly wiped from the company website (which I still resent and find inexplicable, since others with far less time at the company had QUIT and still been featured on the website for possible freelance work. Even if I had never received a single call to do such work, it would have soothed some of my inner turmoil if they hadn't immediately jettisoned me from the freelance roster as though I was unskilled garbage. I am, so far as I know, the only person to leave the company to whom that happened.) Anyway, I felt a need to travel a new career path. I decided to become a professional writer.

This past year, I've been published 17 times, in five different print venues (with a sixth now pending), and I am proud of that. As time goes on - and my writing appears in more places - it becomes easier to sell myself. My hope is to at least double my sales rate in this coming year.

Today - Christmas - I have another piece published in the Boston Herald. I certainly know folks have more important things to do today than read me. My piece is in the spirit of the day, however, and if you'd like to read a nice little tale about something that happened quite a few holidays back, please go HERE.

As always, if you have time to leave a comment, I am in your debt. You need only ask a return of the favor and I will be at your service immediately.

(I also have a full page in Discover magazine's Year In Science issue, now on newsstands! You can go to their website and see what it was I wrote about - my by-line is on #40 of the Top 100 stories of the year - but you'll have to buy the print issue to actually read the article. Go ahead; you know you want to!)

I realize I haven't been able to accomplish any of this without help, nor will I continue doing well without more. First and foremost, no matter what perilous situation I find myself in, God somehow lands me on my feet. This Christmas finds me more aware of my blessings than I may have been at any previous time in my life. Beyond thanks to God, I wish to extend my sincerest thanks to my friends and family for giving me support and encouragement. Believe me, I appreciate it all.

And then there is MY WIFE. You are a blessing I have in mind all day, every day. Thank you for being my solid ground.

May God bless your celebrations and make His many blessings abundantly clear to you. No matter what the situation, and even if you don't see the blessing immediately, it is there somewhere. Consider it a spiritual treasure hunt you're undertaking. You'll always find it, sooner or later.

I often close with these words to you. The reason is because God says much the same to me...

Soon, with more better stuff.