First, a sincere thank you:

I’ve been truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and positive feedback on my essay from two weeks ago that marked 18 years of living with chronic back pain.

Your messages of encouragement and kindness have meant more to me than I can express. If my responses have felt a bit lackluster, it’s only because I’ve been at a loss for words to fully convey my gratitude.

For those of you who are new here, welcome! Alongside my long-form essays, I also send out David’s Digest, a semi-regular roundup of the books, articles, videos, and other things I’ve been learning from and enjoying.

Book I’m reading:

Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy

I recently finished listening to Adrian Goldsworthy’s epic biography of Julius Caesar. Ever since moving to Rome in August, I’ve been diving into ancient Roman history, for obvious reasons! I started with Mary Beard’s SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, which gave a wonderful overview of the mythical and archaeological origins of Rome through the rise and fall of the Republic. Goldsworthy’s Caesar: Life of a Colossus provides an in-depth look at one of history’s most fascinating leaders.

Caesar’s life reads like a whirlwind of ambition, brilliance, and controversy. Rising from a relatively modest background for Roman nobility, he became a skilled general, orator, and politician, reshaping the Republic through his military conquests, political alliances, and reforms. Goldsworthy captures both his charisma and his ruthlessness, showing how Caesar’s relentless drive to consolidate power ultimately led to his dictatorship and his assassination at the hands of former allies.

On my daily commute to and from work, I walk past the ruins of the Curia of Pompey where Caesar was stabbed to death on the Ides of March (pictured below). It’s surreal to live in a city with layers and layers of history thousands of years old. Reading about Caesar while walking through the city he once ruled brings the story to life in a way no classroom or documentary ever could.

“Ultimately, most of the Roman elite preferred to allow some of the major problems facing the Republic to go unanswered rather than see someone else gain the credit for dealing with them.”

Video I’m loving:

A good friend of mine, Taylor Kemp, recently appeared on Journey Home, a show on EWTN where converts and reverts to Catholicism share their stories. Taylor and I first met in 2015 in RCIA, the weekly classes for adults entering the Catholic Church.

At the time, Taylor was playing for DC United, Washington, DC’s professional soccer team. There probably weren’t many other MLS fans in the room, but I was a lifelong soccer fan and was a bit intimidated by Taylor at first. But over time, Taylor and his wife Brittany became two of my closest friends in DC. In 2016, Taylor and I were confirmed together during the Easter Vigil at St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill.

On Journey Home, Taylor shares his awesome story of how God broke into his life during his time as a professional soccer player. It’s a powerful testament to the way faith can transform us, no matter where we are in life.

Podcast I’m enjoying:

Recently, Matt D’Avella relaunched his podcast under a new name: Three Rules. Each 15-minute episode features a guest sharing three simple rules they live by.

In the first episode, Matt interviews Ryan Holiday, one of my favorite non-fiction authors and a leading voice in reintroducing Stoicism to modern audiences.

Ryan’s three rules are timeless yet practical:

1. Always be reading.

2. Seek out mentors.

3. Say yes. Then say no.

If you’re looking for a quick burst of inspiration, this podcast is worth a listen.

Music I’m listening to:

The Dominican House of Studies has an incredible Christmas album! It’s very much still Christmas, so have a listen and stay in the Christmas spirit.

Quote I’m reflecting on:

“We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the neverending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal. Vice has always a new fresh young face, while virtue is venerable as nothing else in the world is.”

― John Steinbeck, East of Eden

Photo I’m reminiscing about:

This past August, I visited my sister in Australia, and we took a road trip along the breathtaking Great Ocean Road. One of the highlights was seeing the Twelve Apostles, a stunning rock formation rising from the ocean at the very edge of the world.

Standing there, gazing at the towering cliffs and crashing waves, was a powerful reminder of how small we are in the face of the epicness of creation.

Taken with my Rollie 35 S film camera.

Leave a comment sharing what you’ve been enjoying 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.

Leave a comment sharing what you’ve been enjoying lately!