A New Year’s Toast

Friends, before we rush into another year of resolutions, goals, planners, and promises, let me ask you something simple, but searching.

Not to hype what’s next.
But to reflect on what really matters.

What is the most important thing in your life?

Most of us know the right answer.
“My family.”
“My marriage.”
“My kids.”
“My faith.”

And those answers sound good. They feel right. They’re true… in theory.

But here’s where it gets personal.

If I dIf I followed you around for a week, not with judgment, just with curiosity, I’d learn what matters most to you without you ever saying a word. I’d see it in what interrupts you and what doesn’t. In what you protect. In what you postpone. In what gets your best energy and what gets the leftovers.

Because values aren’t declared.
They’re demonstrated.

What we give our attention to, our time to, our energy to, our resources to… that is what we truly value. And whether we realize it or not, that focus is quietly shaping our future

As we stand on the edge of a brand new year, this matters more than ever.

Attention Is a Vote for the Life You’re Building

Every day, every decision, every yes and no is a vote.
A vote for the life you want.
Or the life you’ll accidentally settle for.

We don’t drift into healthy families.
We don’t stumble into meaningful marriages.
We don’t casually raise grounded, loved kids.
We don’t accidentally build a life of peace, purpose, and faith.

Those things are built by focused attention, applied consistently, over time.

The late, great Zig Ziglar once said his greatest secret to success was having a “home court advantage.” What happened at home, he believed, determined how effective he could be everywhere else.

He was right.

If things are unsettled at home, distracted at home, neglected at home, it leaks into everything.
But when home is healthy, when relationships are nurtured, when faith and family come first, something powerful happens.

You don’t just feel better.

You show up better.

You do better.

Why Do We Work So Hard Anyway?

Let’s be honest for a moment.

Why do we chase success? Why do we push? Why do we care about growth, provision, achievement?

For most of us, the answer runs deeper than titles or applause. It’s rooted in love. In wanting to provide. In wanting to protect. In wanting to create opportunity, security, and a future for the people we care about most.

And yet, so often, we sacrifice the very thing we’re working for in the name of working harder.

That’s not success. That’s misaligned focus.

When life slows down enough for reflection, when the noise fades, no one wishes they had spent more hours at the office, more nights scrolling, or more energy chasing approval.

What matters in the end is who we loved, how we showed up, and what we paid attention to.

A Simple Pact for the New Year

So tonight, before tomorrow night’s celebration begins, and we welcome a new year, let’s make a pact.

Not a resolution fueled by hype, but a commitment grounded in clarity.

No more lip service.
No more saying one thing and living another.

Let’s make the main thing, the actual main thing.

This year, before you set goals, ask better questions:

• Does my calendar reflect what I say matters most?

• Do my habits support the life I want five years from now?

• Where has my attention drifted without me noticing?

• What deserves more of me… and what deserves less?

Because here’s the truth worth toasting to:
Your focus will determine your future.

And when we give our full attention to what matters most, we don’t just build better years.
We build better lives.

Here’s to a year of clarity.
A year of intention.
A year of loving well and living aligned.

Cheers to the good and the meaningful ahead. 🥂
Gratefully serving people who love extraordinary chocolate,
Brock

P.S. Every great New Year deserves something sweet to savor while the clock strikes midnight. If you’re gathering with family or friends, do yourself a favor and bring out the good stuff. Our Toffee Totos, Mint Melt-A-Ways, and signature Brock Bites are perfect for sharing, celebrating, and creating those “remember this moment” memories. Because goodness is meant to be shared, and life tastes better when you celebrate what really matters. ✨

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