Annual Review, Cathedrals, and Newspaper Dating
David's Digest: Here’s what I’ve been diving into lately.
Yearly Review and 2025 Goals Worksheet:
For the past few years, I’ve made it a point to spend December reflecting on the previous year—its highs and lows, lessons learned, accomplishments, and challenges—and setting clear goals for the year ahead.
This year, I decided to create a reusable template for this process. It’s a collection of the best worksheets and resources I’ve found, brought together in one place. Most of it isn’t my original work, but I’ve tried to give credit where due.
If you’re up for a totally over-the-top, but hopefully helpful, Yearly Review and 2025 Goals Worksheet, here you go!
Book I’m reading:
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.
Pillars of the Earth is an epic historical novel that immerses you in the intricate struggles of politics, faith, and ambition in 12th-century England. At its core, the story revolves around the construction of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge—a monumental endeavor that raises questions about art, power, and legacy. Have you ever walked into iconic cathedrals like Notre Dame, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, or St. Peter’s Basilica and wondered, “Who built this? How? And why?” Ken Follett became obsessed with answering these questions, and through meticulous research, he answers them by telling the story from multiple perspectives: the master builder driven by his own architectural vision, the idealistic prior determined to expand his monastery, the ruthless bishop desperate for power, the noble families battling for control of the land, and the humble townspeople just struggling to survive. These intertwined narratives paint a vivid picture of the medieval world and explore the themes of ambition, faith, and the desire to leave a lasting legacy.
This 1,000-page book starts a bit slow but is worth the effort. It’s the first in a trilogy. Has anyone read the others? While I enjoyed this one, I’m not necessarily itching to continue the series. Let me know if you think it’s worth it!
“When you're thinking, please remember this: excessive pride is a familiar sin, but a man may just as easily frustrate the will of God through excessive humility.”
Video I’m loving:
Speaking of beautiful cathedrals… reading Pillars of the Earth has given me a whole new perspective on the restoration of Notre Dame.
The cathedral is nearly unrecognizable—not because of any misguided attempts to “modernize” or “update” (thankfully, those efforts failed), but because it’s been cleaned for the first time in centuries and restored to its original splendor. The newly unveiled Notre Dame serves as a beautiful reminder that medieval churches weren’t “dark” at all—they were bright, airy, and colorful. I can’t wait for my next trip to Paris to see it in person!
Article I’m still thinking about:
Dating App Fatigue? In Vermont, Personal Ads Still Thrive by Adrienne Raphel
I envy my friends who found their partners prior to the rise of dating apps. There’s no other way to describe them: they suck.
For decades, this small newspaper in Vermont has had a thriving personal ads section that people are increasingly turning to instead of dating apps.
Does this only work because Vermont is so small-town quirky, or can it be replaced elsewhere?
My adopted hometown of Santa Barbara is pretty small-town quirky too…
I nominate Matt Bennett to start a dating ads section in the Santa Barbara Independent to see if it works!
Podcast I’m enjoying:
Time to Unplug - Deep Questions, Cal Newport
A post-election encouragement to unplug and reset your life at the end of the year.
Music I’m listening to:
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming by my friends, The Hillbilly Thomists
Quote I’m reflecting on:
“All human wisdom is contained in these two words - Wait and Hope”
― Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
Photo I’m reminiscing about:
The temperature is dropping in Rome, and I’m really starting to miss those warm Bali afternoons! I took this photo with my new film camera, a Rollie 35s I bought before my summer adventures throughout Asia.
