Resolutions

Yes, it's that time of year when we all make sincere commitments to goals we want to achieve, commitments that usually last a few days or weeks at most. But that doesn't stop us from making them every single year, does it? So, here are some of the things I'm working on for 2026.

First...more consistent blog posting. I know, that's not my overarching priority in life, but for the purposes of this blog, it's important. I am running two blogs at this time; for those who haven't seen it yet, please check out my 3rd edition D&D retrospective, 25 Years Later... I completed my review of every D&D product released by Wizards of the Coast in 2000 starting with the Player's Handbook, and now I'm moving on to 2001.

For this blog, I'm going to try to focus more on two subjects that are very important to me: family and faith. I'm an outspoken and committed Catholic, and I want to talk more about that going forward. However, politics is right off the table; I will not discuss politics. Not Canadian, not American, not European...none of it. Politics is a surefire way to piss off half of one's potential audience, and I'm still trying to build this blog back up after taking nearly eighteen months off. So, no politics.

Second...more reading. I've got a decent-sized library of books, many of which I haven't finished (or in some cases, started) yet. I have a tendency to collect a series of books even though I don't read them for months or even years later. For example, I have a hefty collection of Pierre Berton's Canadian history books on my bookshelf; I've only finished two of them and am currently on the third. That leaves thirteen more, not counting the ones I don't yet own. So, I want to get more of them read, and do some reviews along the way.

Third...our home-based business is taking off, so I'm spending quite a bit of time on that. I worked for about twelve hours in total today. And this is a holiday. I just have to remember to take the time for some balance in life. Spending more time with the kids before they are all grown up and gone, for example. Spending quality time with my wife that doesn't involve flour and ovens would be nice, too.

Fourth...as I mentioned, my faith is vitally important to me, and I want to go even deeper into that faith in my studies. I've committed to listening to three separate podcasts this year (although I'm actually watching them on YouTube): The Bible in a Year, The Catechism in a Year, and the Rosary in a Year. I've done all three of these; I just finished the Rosary in a Year yesterday. But I haven't listened to all three of them simultaneously, so I think that would be an excellent project to work on for 2026. The nice thing is that I spend so much time in the bakery that I have plenty of time to listen, time I might not have to sit down and read as I did last year. Oh, and I'm working on my second year of reading/listening to the writings of the Early Church Fathers. I finished three volumes last year, from the Didache and Clement of Rome to Tertullian; I'm now in Volume Four, which finishes Tertullian as well as starts on Origen, so it's going to be quite a journey. If it's anything like last year, I'll be starting Volume Seven by this time next year. It's a lot, but most of it is available on YouTube or Librivox, so it's all good.

Fifth...I don't want to do a fifth.

Sixth...Nah, I think the four I already listed are going to keep me quite busy all year long. So, we'll leave it at that for now.

I wish you all the very best in 2026, and I hope you all find success and happiness in your endeavors. Be good, and keep the faith.