My 2025 Goals & Intentions
My 2025 Goals & Intentions
As the new year gets closer, I am thinking about my 2025 goals and intentions. For me, 2025 is about growth and creativity—but also about making real, meaningful changes. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what matters most to me and how I want my life to feel, and this year is my chance to turn those ideas into action.
A big part of that is diving into art in a way I never have before. I’ve always admired art, but this time, I want to get my hands dirty—literally. I want to learn to draw, paint, and understand the stories behind the art I love. Museums around Atlanta are going to be my new favorite hangouts, and I’ve got a whole lineup of books, videos, and practice sessions planned to help me really connect with this side of myself. It’s not just about learning techniques; it’s about seeing the world differently.
Another thing I’m working on is creating more space for what’s important. Social media has a way of eating up my time without me even noticing. This year, I’m setting some boundaries—just an hour a day—so I can spend more time on things that matter, like reading. I’ve always loved getting lost in a great book, and I’m aiming to read two a month this year. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, I want stories and ideas to inspire me and fuel my creativity.
I’m also making it a priority to stay connected with the people in my life. That means grabbing coffee with Liz every month, heading to creative s meetups, doing photoshootwith new models, and maybe even bringing my D&D group back to life. These moments—whether big or small—are where the best memories come from, and I want more of that in my life.
Then there’s my health. I’m not just looking to get in shape; I want to build habits that make me stronger, more resilient, and ready for whatever comes next. This means working out consistently, practicing yoga every week, and getting to a point where I can run three miles without stopping. It’s not just about the physical part, though. There’s something empowering about pushing myself and seeing what I’m c
And finally, I’m looking forward to sharing some amazing adventures with my wife, Leslie. I'm promising her 12 new experiences this year, whether that’s exploring new places or just trying something totally out of the ordinary. It’s our way of making sure we’re not just living life but really savoring it.
For me, 2025 isn’t just about checking boxes or hitting targets, that is why I am calling my it my 2025 goals & intentions list. It’s about transformation and creating a life that feels authentic and fulfilling. It’s about choosing to show up for myself and the people I care about in ways that truly matter. I have no idea exactly how the year will unfold, but I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.
Embrace the Chaos
When I was a child my parents took me to a local book fair held inside a school gymnasium. I was so excited because even at a young age, and despite the fact that I wasn't a very good reader, I loved books. They told stories. Stories that would fill my imagination with wonderful heroes, dark lands, and far-off adventures.
So as I wanted into the book fair and saw the gym filled with book vendors of every kind, standing behind folding tables decorated, and piled high with books, I could barely contain my excitement. I had every intention of finding a story to read.
At the time I was really into "choose your own adventure" books and had my heart set on finding a few new ones to add to my meager collection, but as I walked along the rows and rows of book vendors a book caught my attention. I was a white journal with Yoda on the cover in a cartoon image. I had not intended to get a journal, and truth be told I had never written in a journal before, but there was something about this book that drew me to it. So with the small allowance I had saved, I purchased my very first journal.
I had grown up watching my father write in a journal regularly, and I was excited to be doing something that emulated him, so when I got home I took my journal to my room, sat down at my little desk, a desk that used to belong to my father as a child, and began to write my first page...
I don't remember what I wrote, to be honest, but I remember hating it. It wasn't right, it didn't look like my dad's journal pages, my handwriting was messy, and my thoughts were dumb. The bottom line...it wasn't perfect.
In a frustrated fit, I remember ripping the 1st page out of the journal, because if it wasn't perfect it didn't deserve to exist. So I crumpled up the paper, tossed it over my shoulder, and turned back to the journal to try again. Again and again, I tried to write, and again and again, I kept ripping pages out, all because I was under the misguided idea that if what I created wasn't perfect it didn't deserve to exist.
After doing this over and over again for some time I now had a new problem. I had ripped so many pages out of the journal that the inside spine was now scared, damaged, and clearly missing pages. The journal no longer looked nice. The journal was no longer perfect.
I tried to fix it, but the damage was done. In my quest for perfection, I had destroyed the very object that just a few hours before had brought me so much happiness and excitement. This idea of perfectionism and the notion that if it wasn't perfect it didn't deserve to exist would follow me for many years to come, and many more journals fell to this misguided idea.
But it wasn't just journals, I threw away photos I had taken, stories I had written, song recordings I had done, and so much more. If I couldn't be "perfect" in a certain class, I would just stop trying. If I couldn't be perfect at a new skill I just wouldn't learn.
Over and over again I would lose out on so many things because in my mind anything that wasn't perfect didn't deserve to exist.
Thankfully, I eventually learned that I was wrong and that perfectionism is nothing worth striving for. Perfectionism is a myth. A myth that doesn't really exist. No one can achieve perfectionism, in any aspect of their life or talent. And while it may look like people can, from the outside looking in, there is always room for people to grow.
The trick is to abandon the idea that you need to be perfect in anything and instead embrace the chaos that is this life. Life is messy, disorganized, chaotic, and so much more, but it is within that very chaos that real beauty, real art, and real impact actually live.
So to whoever is reading this... in regards to whatever you are trying to be perfect at, regardless of if it is just living life like being a good parent, child, teacher, or student or a form of art like photography, painting, writing, makeup, acting, and more, or a discipline like academia, science, mathematics, etc. Remember this...
Perfectionism has destroyed more good things than it has ever created. Embrace the chaos. You deserve to exist.
3 Book Series EVERY Man Should Read
Growing up, we are often bombarded with societal expectations of what it means to be a "real" man. We are told to be strong, stoic, and always have it together. I myself grew up being told over and over again "When I was a child I thought as a child, but when I became a man I put away childish things." The first time I can remember my Father telling me that was shortly after I turned 8 years old. But let's face it, life is messy, and sometimes we need to let loose and have some fun.
When I was younger, I had this idea that being a man meant I had to be serious all the time. I thought I had to let go of my childhood hobbies and interests and focus on "mature" activities. But the truth is, being a man is not about conforming to outdated stereotypes or what society thinks we should be. It's about being true to ourselves and embracing the things that make us happy.
For me, that meant embracing my inner geek and diving back into my love for Dungeons and Dragons. It also meant allowing myself to indulge in my favorite movies and books, no matter how silly or childish they may seem to others. And you know what? It felt good. It reminded me that being an adult doesn't mean we have to give up the things we love.
So, to all the men out there who feel like they have to conform to society's expectations, I urge you to let go of those notions and embrace the things that make you happy. Whether it's playing video games, reading comic books, or watching cheesy rom-coms, do what makes you happy. Life is too short to live it according to someone else's standards.
And on that note, here are a few book recommendations that I believe every man (or anyone, really) should read:
- Old Man's War by John Scalzi - This science fiction novel explores a future where humanity has colonized the stars and follows protagonist John Perry as he joins the military at the age of 75 to fight for the future of the human race.
- The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher - As you mentioned, this urban fantasy series follows Harry Dresden, a professional wizard and private investigator in Chicago. The series is action-packed, full of humor, and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
- The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne - This fantasy series follows the adventures of Atticus O'Sullivan, the last of the Druids, as he navigates through supernatural dangers and encounters gods, goddesses, and other mythical beings.
Remember, reading is a personal and subjective experience. Don't let anyone tell you what books you should or should not read. Instead, focus on finding books that you enjoy and that make you happy.
Ultimately, I learned that being a man is not about adhering to rigid stereotypes or societal expectations. It's about being true to yourself and embracing the things that make you happy, even if they involve wizards, dragons, or spaceships. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to ride a dragon into battle or blast off into the galaxy with a motley crew of misfits? So go ahead, embrace your inner geek, and revel in the wonder of fiction and fantasy. After all, life is too short to take ourselves too seriously!
