A Shaggy New Year 2023: Time Flies, Focus Forward! - Social Media Detox

**I have pivot this project and now is just called Detox.

Dear Readers,
Well, would you look at that! 2023 is almost in the rearview mirror, and it feels like just yesterday we were all trying to figure out how to pronounce "COVID-19" and why toilet paper had suddenly become the hottest commodity on the planet. Time sure does fly, doesn't it? But hey, as a wise man once said, "Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like bananas."

Now, as we approach the end of this rollercoaster of a year, I've decided it's time to give you all a New Year's gift you may or may not appreciate. I'm talking about renewed effort and a doubling down on The Shaggy Report. It's been a wild ride for me too, deciding what to do with this little slice of the internet, but now that the dust has settled, I've got some clarity.

Introducing The Shaggy Report (yes, that's the official name, in case you were wondering):

Your go-to source for the musings of a man trying to be better at life, love, and everything in between. We'll be talking about the intersection of Family, Culture, Entrepreneurship, Craftsmanship, News Events, Nature, and Faith, with a healthy dose of woodworking content to boot.

Social Media Detox

But wait, there's more! In addition to our regular content, we're launching a new series called Social Media Detox. It's like a digital spa day for your brain, filled with curated gems of Culture, Craftsmanship, Family, Nature, News Events, and Faith. And the best part? It's completely free for all current(December 2023) subscribers until June 2024.(UPDATE: I just realized how stupid it is to charge for this at this time, so this series will be part of the free tier.)

So buckle up, folks! It's time to focus forward and make 2024 the year of The Shaggy Report.

Now, let's get down to business! Below, you'll discover three additional sections. First, a bit more information on what exactly Social Media Detox is. Second, a preview of how it will look. And third, a reflection on some things I am grateful for in my life this year!

What is Social Media Detox?

Unlock a mindful digital escape with 'Social Media Detox'—curated gems in Culture, Craftsmanship, Family, Nature, News Events, and Faith.

For you to save time and enjoy curated social media gems without the hassle of scrolling through endless feeds, I work hard to choose specific posts that will add value to your life and help you not waste time on social media (Or maybe delete it entirely) - straight to your inbox!

Why create it?

Well, I wish someone would have written a newsletter like this for me. I believe that social media can be a powerful tool for learning and personal growth, but the current environment often makes it difficult to find the gems amidst the noise. That's why I decided to create a service that does the hard work for you. By curating the most valuable content from different platforms, Social Media Detox ensures that you can enjoy a mindful digital escape without the stress of constant browsing.

Not everyone wants to be on social media. I would prefer to have this content shown to me without me needing to be engaged on social media, and I suspect many other people also would prefer that.

What includes?

• Save time and enjoy curated social media and online gems without the hassle of scrolling through endless feeds - straight to your inbox!
• One gem for each category: Culture, Craftsmanship, Family, Nature, News Events, Faith, plus a Bonus.
• From thought-provoking conversations to laugh-out-loud moments, you'll be the star of your next family dinner with these amazing topics.

PREVIEW

Curiosity, Over 120 Years Old Light Bulb Record:

Note from Javier. I was in disbelief when found this. The Centennial Light, located in Livermore, California, is the world's longest-lasting light bulb, burning since 1901. It is a hand-blown, carbon-filament common light bulb with a very low wattage, emitting light equivalent to a 4-watt nightlight. The bulb was invented by French engineer Adolphe Chaillet, and its longevity was first noticed in 1972. The bulb is maintained by the Centennial Light Bulb Committee, a partnership of local organizations.

Family, Amazing Video About Parents and Cellphones:

Note from Javier. This was a great reminder that we need to choose to be engaged. My little boy spent a month in NICU. I would have done anything to be engaged with at all times, and then just like that, when he is out, I am back in a busy routine. It's definitely a fight, but one worth doing.

Craftmanship, Saint Bartholomew Sculpture, 1562:

Note from Javier.The sculpture depicts Saint Bartholomew, a Christian martyr who was flayed alive and beheaded for converting Armenia to Christianity. The Renaissance artist Marco d’Agrate created a rare marble écorché sculpture in 1562, showing Bartholomew wearing his own skin as a cloak and holding the flaying knife. The piece is anatomically precise due to d’Agrate's study of the human body and is a testament to enduring faith. The inscription at the base acknowledges d’Agrate's fear that the work might be attributed to the famous Ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles.

Culture, 31 One Amazing Churches from Europe:

Note from Javier. I am super intrigued by the fact that he did not include La Sagrada Familia in Spain! Also, as impressive as these temples are, they are not more than stones. These European temples, are ultimately just stones. Europe may have lost its Christian values, but we can still appreciate the beauty and inspiration that can be found in the pursuit of heavenly ideals.

News Event, College Moral Bankruptcy:

Note from Javier. In a recent congressional hearing on antisemitism, the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and Penn were questioned about their universities' stance on calling for genocide against Jews. The presidents' responses indicated that the decision would depend on the context and whether the speech led to actual harm. This has sparked controversy and calls for their resignation due to the perceived moral bankruptcy of their stance on genocide. The hearing also highlighted the issue of rising antisemitism on campuses and the need for strong leadership to address it.

Finally, here are some personal highlights for 2023:

In a semi-consistent way, I was able to have breakfast with my dad for the first half of the year. The second half was pretty hard to keep on the pace of any kind of routine.

I work on things I have never worked on before, like Google Search Optimization, Social Media management, YouTube channel management, Henchman, and many other odd jobs.

I became a father of a boy, my boy was in intensive care, and now he is fine an a very healthy baby.

I got my green card approved with almost perfect timing and moved from Panama to the United States. After a year of preparation, my passport and visa came about an hour before my departure flight. We had already packed our belongings and sold most of our things. It was our offering of faith, and now we are on the journey of seeing how God allows us to start a new season in life.

We planted new trees in our little plot of land, which my grandfather, who came from the USA from Native American and German blood to the USA, passed on to my mother. And now, she is allowing us to build a little place that we may call home in Panama as we are closing the sale of our previous Panama home.

We rented a new place in Florida and have been unboxing and boxing things for the last 3 months, getting new cars, singing up our kids for day care, and then taking them out of it to put them with a new babysitter.

I found a job within just about two weeks of being in the USA, and then I left it for a new one that may be a better fit for me and my family.

Help my in-laws to move to a new house .

Looking forward to see family for Christmas.

In all, my family has stayed together, and I am beyond grateful to God for all of it.

Until the next one!

Javier