Starting over is never easy. Whether it’s a career, a move, the end of a relationship, a church breakup, an unexpected tragedy — it’s never easy.  I thought the drama of life would be over at my age, but that’s not what I see in so many of my friends.  Some have lost houses, some have lost retirement savings, some have lost health, some have lost marriages, some of lost children.

It just makes you ask yourself why life has to be so hard?

Know this.  No one gets a “get out of jail free” card.  The rain falls on the just and the unjust.  The question remains, will you learn from it?  Will you grow?  I hope my answer is always yes.  I may not be able to see God’s reasons for the setbacks, but I know He is present and He is hurting for us more than we can imagine.

As I start my career up again at ahem, a ripe old age, I’m excited I get the opportunity to do so.  As we head into 2020 — I pray it’s a year of focus for you and that you can focus on the journey God gave you and complete it to the best of your ability.

My word for 2020 is ONWARD.  Because I’m not looking backward.  I’m going forward onto the path He set before me.  I may not like the view, but I’m determined to make the best of it.  What about you?  Will you leave the past in the past?  Or drag it along with you into this New Year?

My new book is set in Little Italy, San Diego.  I took this pic while doing research there.  Oddly enough, my son and his new bride moved into this neighborhood this week.  In 2020, may we all be filled with the hope that a new place and a new life together brings.