Good Morning, Digital Neighbors! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all you fine souls at The Rubin Report, Phetasy, and Padre’s! Sure, I could go through one of my roll-calls that I’m so fond of repeating, but you all know who you are. For most, Christmas is already a distant memory, and thinking about the New Year has been reduced to not writing 2025 anymore and learning to replace it with 2026. Some are working earnestly on changes for the New Year, and I think that is more than commendable—especially if they are undertaking some new discipline or endeavor that goes against years of worse habits or passive living. I would much rather see people succeed at their goals for positive change than fail.

Our culture has become so self-absorbed and tainted by the corruption of broken dreams and meaningless paths that it takes greater delight in the failures of others and the fall from success than in achievement. Some call it wisdom when they bleat out “I told you so” or some other dismissive statement that tells others they knew all the striving and lofty goals were in vain. If you ever find yourself in those dark currents of cynical corruption, I hope you remove yourself as soon as possible. Those are the real dwelling places of the Fallen. There is no joy, no peace, and no solace to be found there. Even if one tries to comfort themselves with the idea that they are insightful—that they knew—it is a knowledge not worth celebrating or possessing.

A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials. — Seneca

It is a far better thing to encourage one another during our trials. Instilling a fear of complacency is more important than a fear of failure. Fail 100 times, try 101. Say it until you believe it. It’s easy to say and hard to do—much harder when one struggles with their own doubts and finds no support or motivation to try again. There are those rare souls who can push forward without any support and who are undeterred by failure, trial, or hardship, but that is not most of us. We are created for communion, even if it is with only a few people who can help us recover or discover our better selves. Our better self has so much to experience in the limited time we have before us. I hope there are a few good souls to help bring about that polish in your life—a polish that will not only be a blessing to you but to all those around you. We need them much more than the torrents of negativity and human sorrow that are so much a part of the media cycle and our venturing online. Peace, dear neighbors.

Over at Padre’s, I am introducing White Pilled Wednesday for Coffee Talk at 6:00 a.m. Central. Yeah, it is early. Always has been, always will be. Speakeasies, Shmoozes, and Tea Times are more of an afternoon thing. While our conversations are often positive and amusing at Padre’s, there is a tendency among any of us online explorers to become bogged down in the heavy news of politics, culture, and the negative drama so readily broadcast across the media and internet. Our world is a mess and it is easy to talk about it. It is very easy to surrender ourselves to the anger, frustration, or heat of the moment. While it can be occasionally cathartic, too much is often just draining. I don’t want to join the ranks online who substitute drama for meaning in their lives. Since you are reading this, I doubt you do either.

White Pilled Wednesday – Come share stories of interest: your favorite hobbies, books you have read or are reading, favorite music or musicians, fond memories of the past, or positive current experiences in your life. Talk about work, family, friends, or whatever it is that has brought you joy or peace. Talk about sports, the arts, interesting or amusing pursuits—it doesn’t really matter as long as the focus is good. For one hour, once a week, make an effort to not surrender ourselves to the latest global, national, or online drama. It will still be there when the hour is over, but for this moment let it be a haven to nourish what is good and praiseworthy.

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