An Open Letter to 2025 (12-3-25)

The year is coming to an end, and I’ve been spending a bit of time by my Christmas tree reflecting. Here is my open letter to 2025.

Dear 2025,

Your friend 2024 was rough, and if I’m being honest, kind of beat the crap out of me. You on the other hand, were a bit of a rainbow unicorn dancing in the midst of a thunderstorm. Yes, things were sometimes as chaotic as heck, but you were beautiful with a touch of magic and everything I needed.

My theme for the year was “Rebuild”. As I shared in my first blog of the year, after getting beat down, I needed to make extensive repairs AND changes. I did just that. I had better work/life integration than I’ve had in years. I’m ending the year with a solid foundation that should serve me well in 2026.
I continue to be thankful for my health. While I have room to grow, I rebuilt some of my health habits, and I’m at least exercising more regularly than I have for the past few years. I’m looking forward to accelerating this next year.
It’s easy to forget that love is a verb. Words are nice, but without actions, they aren’t love. Words without actions are just empty gestures. Love is active. Love is listening, helping, taking accountability, being vulnerable, growing to be a better partner/person, and more.
Speaking of love, my wife is incredible. Every year I spend with her I am in deeper awe of her strength and how much she cares about me and our kids. I wish everyone had a partner in their life like her that made them better and made them want to be better.
My kids are 11 and 13 and continue to come into their own. I’m proud of them for their accomplishments, but I’m most proud of them for how they are growing into good people. People who care. People who are brave enough to own their mistakes and repair situations. If they grow up and all they are is good people that will be the best outcome that could ever occur.
I’ve spent the last year of work as a Mad Scientist/Willy Wonka hybrid character, and that’s been so enjoyable to see dreams come to fruition.
The chance to deliver magic at work increases when you have the right people in the right roles with the right leadership surrounded by the right team. It’s hard for those things to line up, and I’m thankful to have lived that this year.
Are the people at work just people you work with or are they teammates and partners? There’s a difference. Something incredible happens when you can get talented people to see a common vision and build toward that together.
Is it real pressure or is it self-pressure? Often, we do more damage to ourselves with our own made-up expectations than we do based on the real expectations.
Hard times suck AND they are often great teachers. They teach you who cares. They teach you what matters.
Plant things now. Maybe you’ve missed your moment like I have in the past. That’s okay. That moment is gone, so plant now for a better future.
2025, you’ve been good to me. Thank you!

The challenge: If you haven’t taken the time, take a few moments to reflect on 2025 and the lessons and emotions it gave you this year. How will these shape you moving forward?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry

An Open Letter to 2024 (12-4-24)

As the year comes to a close, I’ve once again taken time to sit near my Christmas tree and reflect. Here is my open letter to 2024, and the lessons it gave me.

Dear 2024,

How’s it going? If I had to sum up my experience with you in one word it would be, “Whoa!” Whoa as in, “Whoa! What the heck just happened?” or “Whoa! That’s enough already. You don’t need to keep pouring it on.” And “Whoa! How in the world did we make it through all that?” You were tough from the get-go, and you never let up.

My theme for this year was to “Intentionally Invest” There were some places in life where I failed miserable in investing in the right things, and instead spent energy and time like crazy just trying to make it. There were other areas where I did invest well, and I’m already benefiting from the compound interest from those efforts.
I’m so thankful for my health and continue to understand why I shouldn’t ever take that for granted.
I hope that everyone finds a partner one day that loves them, supports them, cares for people, and holds things down the way my wife does. If you’ve already found someone like that, make sure you count your blessings.
If my kids were flowers, they would be in full bloom now, and that’s beautiful. If they were flowers, they would also be bright and colorful with creative weird patterns, who grow where they are planted while learning how to try out new soil.
My goal in my job is always to work magic, to find ways to do the seemingly impossible. I’m so proud of myself, because I know I worked magic this year. I worked blood magic, sweat magic, tears magic. I transformed dreams and wild ideas into reality and slayed the status quo like an evil dragon. And when the dementors tried to come and suck out my soul, I yelled, “Expecto patronum” and shined a bright light until they retreated. #Hufflepuff (Side note, I wonder what my patronus would be. Bonus points to anyone who gives me a good answer)
2024, you taught me how important it is to have a few good people you can lean on. I worked magic, because I could lean on them when I needed to. I hope you all have a squad of folks you can lean on when stuff gets hard.
Being seen and being valued are two of the most important gifts you can give someone. Never underestimate how much a kind word or gesture can mean. Special thanks to all the people who gave me those gifts this year.
When the going got tough, I didn’t put the team on my back, I brought them into my heart. There’s a difference. The back merely holds heavy weight. The heart holds weight, embraces the people, and still beats with hopeful energy. The heart is stronger than other muscles could ever hope to be.
This year reminded me how much strength there is in vulnerability, and how similar our experiences are as humans. I had a blog series where I talked about going to therapy, not knowing if people had any similar feelings or issues. I was blown away by the number of people who said, “Whoa! This is the same things I’m going through.” It was a good reminder that we are never truly alone, and that being brave enough to share our stories hopes us all.
I think almost everyone I’ve spoken to is on the verge of burnout or a breakdown. I pray we all recharge and we find ways to avoid this next year.
Speaking of recharge, I’m finally making some progress on taking care of myself physically. Been working out regularly and seeing increases in strength. I have a long way to go, but proud of my progress.
Whoa! That’s a lot for one year. I hope that 2025 is a little bit smoother around all the spiky edges 😉

The challenge: If you haven’t taken the time, take a few moments to reflect on 2024 and the lessons and emotions it gave you this year. How will these shape you moving forward?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry

Open Letter to 2023 (12-6-23)

Happy Wednesday,

The year is coming to a close. I’ve enjoyed sitting near my Christmas tree and letting my mind wander for a bit. Here is my open letter to 2023, and the lessons it gave me.

Dear 2023,

How are you doing? By the end of 2022, I felt like I was crawling over the finish line just trying to make it. 2023, you were different. You were a much-needed breath of fresh air. You were good luck, new chances, and exciting achievements. As we end our dance together, I’m thankful for the wind you put in my sails, and I feel ready for the next adventure.

My mantra this year was “protect my peace”. I’m so proud of myself, because I did that better this year than I have in years past, and because of this I was a better version of myself in all aspects of life.
I’m in this interesting moment where I can see my kids for who they are and catch glimpses of who they might grow up to be. I’m so proud of them for embracing who they are. I have no idea what they will do when they grow up, but if they continue down this path, I know they will be good humans. What could matter more than that?
It’s amazing to see the power of being around people who get you. Part of the reason why my kids are flourishing is because they are finally starting to find their people. People who accept them and embrace them for all of their nerdiness and who they are. I’ve cried happy tears a few times just thinking about this.
Not only am I in love with my wife, I’m in awe of her. I’ve watched her growth so much this year and she inspires me to be a better husband, dad, friend, and human.
Whenever I felt lost, it was because I had fallen out of the rhythm. I just had to remind myself that all I needed to do was start dancing again and the rhythm would come find me. That may not make sense to anyone else, but it’s clear in my mind.
Building the foundation and infrastructure in any situation is hard work, AND worthwhile work. A house is only as strong as its foundation.
Sometimes strength is being able to do something to solve the problem. Sometimes strength is sitting there with someone, beside them, sifting through their pain and emotions with them, and knowing the most compassionate thing you can do is listen and not flex your muscles.
I performed what might be my favorite poem I’ve ever done at work- Fitting In, Belonging, and Glass Slippers. I look at that guy on stage performing, and while I don’t always feel he and I are the same, I hope that the people around me see glimmers of him on a regular basis. (And I know how weird this sounds. That guy on stage might as well be a different person, and is always the best of me.)
My goal at the beginning of the year was to finish a marathon length obstacle course race. I knew it would be a major stretch, and I did it. (Technically, the course designer messed up and made it 29 miles instead of 26.2, but who is counting besides my body that day 😉) It was exhausting and a great reminder that there is a lot of grit inside I can tap into. In 2023, I survived the races. In 2024, I hope to continue racing and celebrating what my body can do.
I was fortunate enough to earn a promotion this year. It’s not the promotion so much as it’s feeling seen. It’s feeling like all the hard work, all the grinding, all the times I found a way to make something out of nothing, all the setbacks, were seen and valued. I realize that when I don’t feel seen I tell myself stories, and none of them are ever positive.
Speaking of getting a new job, the work and the opportunity fill my cup so much. So much of the role is aligned to what sparks joy in me.
The new job also humbled me a lot. I’ve never been in a situation where there was so much I didn’t know or understand. I continually had to remind myself it was okay to not always know and that it was okay to be open about not knowing. If I had a dime for every time I’ve said, “I’m not exactly sure how the tech works, but we need it to do X”, “I don’t think I’m following, can you explain that again?”, or “I’ve never done this before, so I need you to walk me through it.” I could probably retire. Seeing the warm faces and looks of understanding from the folks on the other end of those phrases makes my heart smile.
Whoa! That was a lot in 2023! Thank you. I’m closing this year feeling energized and hopeful for more brightness and exciting adventures in 2024.

The challenge: If you haven’t taken the time, take a few moments to reflect on 2023 and the lessons and emotions it gave you this year. How will these shape you moving forward?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry

Open Letter to 2022 (12-7-22)

As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting (by my Christmas tree 😊). Here is my open letter to 2022 and the lessons it gave me.

Dear 2022,

How’s it going? If 2021 was a year heading in the right direction, you were a constant barrage of curveballs and challenges.

My theme this year was “Channel the Chaos.” I don’t know if I could have picked a more accurate theme. Maybe I’m a prophet. #Embrydamus
I felt like a lion tamer for most of the year. Instead of lions, I did my best to tame internal processes, random fires, and a slew of challenges. Anyone else feel this way? I was bitten and clawed along the way, but still here. Persevering matters, even when it’s ugly.
Speaking of persevering, 2022 continued to teach me grit. I feel like I spent 49.9% of the year getting knocked down, and 50.1% of the year standing back up, shaking off the hit, and leaning in again. This seemed consistent whether it was at work or at home. I don’t think those are the ideal percentages, but as long as I get up one more time than I was knocked down, it’s a win. Next year I’m hoping to be more at 30/70 or something 😉
My goal every year is to do magic, to do something so incredible that the only explanation for it is sorcery. In my best moments this year (as a husband, dad, friend, employee), I think I had magic and then some. In my best moments I felt like I was a wizard, seeing all the elements come together. Even though those moments were fleeting, they were beautiful.
Every year I gain a deeper appreciation for health. This year I gained a deeper appreciation for how intertwined mental, emotional, and physical health are. I cherish these things on a new level and will fight harder to keep them.
I was reminded of how amazing my family is. I don’t know of too many people stronger than my wife and kids. How blessed am I to have them? In so many ways my wife is the model of the parent I want to be, and my kids have so much more resilience than I ever would have possessed at their age. #blessed
Growth is a tricky thing. You don’t always see it or feel it as it’s happening. I learned to not confuse the lack of feeling growth with the lack of growth. If I’m being super honest, I didn’t even see or think about my growth at work this year until yesterday during my end of the year conversation when my boss started pointing stuff out to me. I was too blinded by surviving the grind to see it.
At the beginning of the year, I had a goal to do 4 obstacle course races. I did 5, including my Spartan Trifecta. May not be a big deal to some folks, but it was a stretch goal for me. It reminded me of how strong I can be physically, mentally, and emotionally. We always have more strength than we think we do.
Not meeting your original goals is not the same thing as failing. Sometimes circumstances change, and the definition of success in new circumstances might be different than what it was in the prior circumstances. You can only play the cards you are dealt. Sometimes playing a good hand with bad cards is more impressive than playing a great hand with good cards, even though it won’t always be recognized as such.
I was stretched so thin this year that I always felt I was falling short and failing people, and this hurt my soul a bit. At the same time, just because I felt I was failing everyone didn’t mean everyone felt I was failing them. I learned to be careful of the stories you tell yourself, because even if there is truth in them it doesn’t always mean they are true.
People are beautiful. Also, people can have ugly actions. I try to tell myself that when people act in an ugly way, it’s because they are hurt and afraid. It helps sometimes, but not always.
Good people are all you really need to get through tough things. As long as you have a few good people in your life you are set.
Life is measured in moments. I can’t tell you what I did most days of the year, but there are some moments that stick out as clear as day.
I’m looking forward to taking time to recharge, adding some fuel to my internal fire, and getting my shine on in 2023.

Those are things going through my head. Yours might be similar or different. Whatever you’re feeling is okay. Your feelings are your truth.

The challenge: If you haven’t taken the time, take a few moments to reflect on 2022 and the lessons and emotions it gave to you this year. How will these shape you moving forward?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry