I have so much to do—I am sure you can relate. It’s the second of January, which means the party is over, and my work email inbox waits like a full suitcase needing to be unpacked. My kids are running around the table as I drink my lukewarm coffee, on winter break and with enough energy to power a small town. I am thinking of all of my creative ambitions (this blog, my novels, newsletter, my YouTube channel, etc.) and my to-do list that itself requires a to-do list. I am the king of spreading myself too thin. In the new year, I am working on that, and also, being more present here. It’s been August since my last post!

In case you didn’t know, I am a dad of three young children. And my job is pretty demanding. Perhaps because of the daily stresses and squishes on my time, I have felt the most creative. I’ve always wanted to write, be an author, blog, all of it, and now, YouTube. But something has always stopped me.

Lately, as I’ve navigated querying one novel, editing my second finished manuscript, and writing and brainstorming others, the spark remains strong. And so has my desire to keep up my Disney blog and various channels. It’s just outright fun and I love deep diving and posting guides and reviews and news and nerding out with my readers.

But I get in my own way. When blogging, I think of how I could be polishing my novel. Wouldn’t that be a “better” use of my time? Who is to say? Thus the struggle of having limited time. And then they’re the perfectionism: are my articles thorough? Well-researched? Helpful? And don’t get me started on how long I take to find the perfect photos from the chaos that is my camera roll. Plus, of course, my kids always come first, and making sure I am present for them and all of their activities results in one exhausted dad.

I am working on writing and posting more freely, just my thoughts and ideas and reviews and tips and my enthusiasm, really, for Disney and theme parks and pop culture, because that is enough. I can’t keep gatekeeping my own words based on my perfectionism. And weirdly enough, the ending of Stranger Things made me realize how much time has passed and all that has changed and how so many of my personal creative ambitions are yet to come to light, to be shared with the world. There is a delulu part of me, I think, that believes someone will care enough to read.

So, get ready for those drafts. And perhaps some topics in addition to Disney World. And news about my novels (fingers crossed). I want to look back on this article this time next year (!) and see that some real progress was made, without worry about the number of readers, followers, subscribers, etc. I find myself wanting to delete this as I write—who will care about my goals? About my newest attempt to be more consistent? There are so many Disney World blogs, why read this one from a tired dad who can’t possibly compete with the rapid theme parks news cycle? Is this too vulnerable?

I am not sure. But, I think that’s the point.

Thanks for reading along.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Justin.