Christmas Eve 2024 🎄

Today is Christmas Eve, and the one year anniversary of my father-in-law’s passing. Gary H. Weiss was 85 years old.

I’m sharing this with you for two reasons. The first reason is reflection.

As 2024 comes to an end, I’m reflecting on the year that’s passed. A year filled with unexpected challenges, new opportunities, and small wins.

Over the past year, I still haven’t found a new full-time job. And I’ve been having to take odd jobs to earn money, which is something completely new to me. Especially at my age. I’ve been looking for full time work, but haven’t had much luck landing interviews. The world is changing and I have to adapt, whether I’m ready to, or not. My circumstances may have changed, but my responsibilities have not.

This reflection makes me think about how Gary Gygax had to start a shoe repair business in his Lake Geneva basement when he lost his job as an underwriter for the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company in 1970. Through all his hardships, he had a beacon of hope. Gary’s world may have unexpectedly turned upside-down, but there was one constant in his life and that was his love of games. Playing them, and designing them.

The second reason I’m sharing my Christmas Eve story with you, is gratitude. As I reflect back on my year, I realize that luck is mostly a state of mind. I can reflect on the bad that’s happened, and equate it to bad luck. Or, I can reflect on the good instead.

That’s where you come in. Yes, you.

Having found my newsletter and YouTube channel, you have brought me the good luck I needed this year, in spite of all the bad. For that, I am forever grateful. I’m grateful for you watching, liking, and commenting on my videos. I’m grateful for you reading, sharing, and responding to my newsletters. I’m grateful for you supporting my content on Patreon and being patient with me as I painstakingly research, write, and record my videos.

No matter what, I’m here and I’m listening. And I’m grateful. Thank you for all your support. I can’t express how important and honored I feel to deserve your time and attention in this way.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Peace,

-Joe

P.S. I’ll be drawing 3 lucky winners for my 1000 Subscriber Giveaway in early January 2025. I’ll be traveling at the end of this year so it makes sense to postpone the drawing until I have more focus and time. Thanks.