Saying goodbye to 2023...

It’s been quite a year for me. Heartbreaks, disappointments, betrayals and even a con artist or two. As result, I’ve learned a lot about myself, and other people.

I’ve also made new friends, some unexpected. I got to live in beautiful Budapest and have all sorts of fascinating conversations with people who know more than me. And I found a backbone I didn’t even know existed.

More than ever, we’re going through a tornado of turmoil on so many fronts. Wars. Propaganda. The growth of extremism all around. It’s infected. But we must fight that with our voices and with our actions.

And while the radical, cruel and angry voices are loud, I’m seeing the reasonable, sane, and kind taking a stand too. I’d like to say that I think the next year will be wonderful, light, and fun—but the truth is that I think that we’re at a crossroads for society. What will decide our fate are whether enough principled individuals will stand up when it counts most.

But I’ve seen glimmers of hope. Many of them. I’v…