A Long December and there’s reason to believe, maybe this year will be better then the last. Reason to believe…I like those three words. Reason. To. Believe. In fact they’re the only words I can hear over and over again as I step out onto the tarmac and into a New Year. Two weeks home. Two weeks of the smiles you miss day in and day out here in Hollywood. Two weeks that went by just to fast; I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass. There were mountains to climb this year without a doubt. But thinking back I can’t complain about the year at all, even the rough days never had me thinking that life is all oysters and no pearls. These are rough times for everyone, we’re all broke, we’re all pissed-off about the past 8 years and what brings out feelings of rage quite like the Holidays. But we can’t keep looking back. We can’t keep worrying everyday about our pennies. A wise man once told me “Money is no object, when you don’t have any.” I think of that line all the time; he’s right. LA has without a doubt introduced me to some of the most miserable millionaires on two millionaire feet. They never have to worry about bouncing the check they sent to the gas company. If their roof caves in, they have it replaced with the greatest materials in the world and pay for it with cash. But they hate everyday. They watch that same gorgeous California sunset that I watch. The difference is I admire the amber, the purple; the flames that fall into the ocean. It makes me feel alive and privileged to have health, family and friends. The misery-millionaires just see it as an annoying ray of light glaring into the Dolce and Gabbana shades. If that’s what money does to you, then fuck it, I’ll take my sunsets and smiles. I’d rather have 10 cents in my pocket and be able to inspire someone with the gift of simple friendship. Two weeks ago as I was heading home via Southwest Airlines I had a thought after my 3rd complimentary Heineken….and that was maybe, just maybe, all of us being in a pinch will allow us to enjoy the Holidays even more then ever. Forget the fancy gifts. Holidays are about being together, being with family, slowing down this insanely fast paced life for one day and just enjoying the sounds of one another’s laughs. Take a photo, paint a picture or just write something honest and truthful in a blank card…giving gifts from your heart, yeah, that’s what we should do! Then something magical happened, a bit if a Christmas miracle; that wish came true. We were all together, living in each other’s smiles, not worried about material possessions. We were simply together. It was honestly the greatest gift I’ve ever received. This year ahead is no doubt a big one for this country. As for me personally, I have that feeling that’s been keeping awake every night for weeks. I know this is the year, every road, every path has brought me to this place. I kept my eyes open and when god handed me pieces of the puzzle, I choose not to stand idle. I put them into place. I know exactly what I need to do and without a doubt I will do it. I have so many to thank for my feet being where they are. My friends, my inspiration. My family, my support team. My wife, my rock, my entire heart. I ask you all to always keep me in your heart, no matter the distance between us. The warmth I’ve been blessed with keeps me swinging. The warmth allows me to view sunsets as if it is god pouring himself into the earth. So I ask all of you, that no matter where you are financially; No matter what terrible life issue you’ve been handed; Just promise me that you’ll find a way to keep smiling, promise me you’ll never look at life through the Dolce and Gabbana shades. A few months back I received a sucker punch to the lip in Hollywood, spilling my blood and adding another set of stitches to my collection. Other then the pain it caused physically, the idea that humans hold onto to so much anger that they find the need to cheap shot a random stranger truly disturbed me. I’ll just never understand why there’s so much hate. I’ll never understand why we waste so much time picking each other apart, analyzing each other, judging each other… It was at our Thanksgiving toast over a month ago that I realized I had to let the questioning go. There’s no answer for why people hate. There’s no answer for misery. So, I let it go…When the world holds me down I close my eyes and just try to capture the moment of being surround by familiar voices, in that cozy basement bar. I feel the hearts I can trust, the souls that inspire me. How can I complain? I may not own a Beverly Hills mansion and I don’t got no Escalade…but damnit, I’ve got heart and I’ve got love….and You know what, fucking Lennon was right, Love is All You Need. I raise my glass and wish all of us a happy and amazing new year; lets keep one another in our hearts forever and never let misery bring us down…never. And a final note to my friends and family, I miss you all already, thank you for an amazing two weeks…”Do you think you might come to California? I think you should.”  -PBILA