December 25, 2022
Dear Friends and Family,
I have struggled all day to write this. Bragging on myself will forever feel foreign and self-serving to me. I’ve always had it that one shouldn’t broadcast one’s process, that we only care about the results.
But I’m reminded of something that a football coach who’s been employed by my beloved alma mater for a couple of years speaks about — everything is about the process, aight? What you see on national TV or with 100 thousand of your best friends is the end result of that process.
He’s won a couple of things in his career.
The process for me this year has been all about finding comfort and peace within myself. It’s a process, and it absolutely isn’t linear. I’ve fallen backwards many times. But there’s a comfort that I feel within myself that is beginning to grow and prosper and manifest within me. And I believe that despite the protestations of the gray blob that lives in my skull, my heart knows that I’m on the right path.
Professionally I was commissioned to publish my first two titles for Royal Hearts Media. “A Girl From Southern Boulevard” is a crazy powerful memoir detailing the struggles of one woman trying to rebuild her life after the bottle nearly destroyed it. That amazing book has sold over 700 copies and counting!
“Not A Children’s Book — The Dark Side Of Nursery Rhymes,” is the hilariously irreverent take on the true meaning of our most beloved nursery rhymes. That book has been universally praised and a sequel is in the works. Hopefully the Tooth Fairy is out of rehab by then.
Two more books are in the works with several more in the planning stages.
Without a doubt, I’m proudest of a little book I dropped on Halloween called “Mining For My Voice.” In that book, I share some of the darkest times and the darkest stories of my life. All the times and stories that have led me to believe that my voice is unimportant. But I also share stories about people and events that have led me to believe that my voice can truly rattle the foundation of humanity. It’s a deeply vulnerable book and I pray it supports you to find your world-rattling voice. And it was a number one bestseller in six different categories on Amazon at launch. No biggie…
And it’s available on Amazon or autographed via the link to the form in the comments of this post.
I think the most important thing I have created this year is still a work in progress. I learned that I do indeed like and love who I am. Is my life where I want it to be? Not yet. Do I still struggle with money? Yes. In fact I still need to figure out how I’m going to finish paying for tonight where I’m living. And how to make it til my next payday on Wednesday. I’m still working retail. I’m still living where I’ve been since the pandemic. I’m still single. I’m still broke.
But I’m happy with who I am for the first time — maybe ever.
I’m tired.
But I’m resilient.
And I’m hell bent and determined to create the life I desire for myself. Spending my life with the people who love me for who I am, and doing the work that God put me on this planet to do.
I made strides with those things in 2022.
I’m leaping in 2023!
I love you all so much! I love you all so much that it physically hurts sometimes.
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!
And for the love of God, go out and love somebody today! Especially if that person is the man or woman in the mirror.
With love and gratitude,
Ryan and Pete
PS. Boop Pete’s snoot. Wish him a Merry Christmas as well.
