2025: My Year In Review

2025 marked a real turning point for me. After a long, quiet, disorienting lull that followed the pandemic—where it felt like everything, I had built needed to be rebuilt from scratch—I fin

ally felt the shift. Rebuilding relationships, restoring old ones, forming new connections through music, and redefining my reputation all happened gradually though this past year.

Becoming an Expert Sound Healer and launching Resté Sound Healing for Women with my wife added new layers to my work, but wearing many hats can blur perception. When people see you everywhere doing many things, they sometimes have no idea what you actually do. Behind the scenes, I was struggling—financially, emotionally, professionally—trying to fill trips, book sound healings, rebuild my performance calendar, and recover what had been lost. “The struggle is real” became a common phrase, though it’s the opposite of how I want to live. My life philosophy has always been about alignment—less fish fighting upstream, more leaf floating effortlessly downstream. In 2025, I finally felt that shift. Less fish. More leaf.

How It Went: Month By Month Synopsis

January launched us straight into the jungle—literally. We began the year leading 22 incredible women through the Riviera Maya, exploring Tulum and Chichén Itzá, floating in cenotes, boating, and sweating it out in a Mayan Temezcal. Hosting groups always brings challenges, especially with strong, capable women, but we navigated it with my peacekeeping tendencies and my wife’s grounded, take-care-of-business brilliance. That said, waking up to no water in our jungle bungalows sent me into full meltdown over my missing warm shower. I was promptly told to “suck it up, buttercup” by my grounding business partner Vivian, and honestly… fair. The jungle offered magic in return—shooting stars, butterflies, ancient energy, and an unforgettable owl who locked eyes with me on departure day, silently confirming it was time to go home. January also included extended personal travel through the region, making it a rich, full beginning.

February brought us back to reality—and a harsh one. Work was slow, the trip didn’t meet minimums, and the financial hit was devastating. Credit cards stepped in where bookings didn’t. February was quiet, stressful, and expensive—but it was also my birthday month, so I took my annual Glen Ivy splurge (also on credit, because why stop now?). I’ve never claimed to be financially savvy—I live very much in the moment—and March continued that slow burn, testing patience and faith as empty calendar squares stared back at me.

April finally cracked the door open. Opportunities returned, including a great Arizona gig and one of the most surreal performances of my career—my debut as the Queen of Hearts for Intuit TurboTax on Tax Day. Yes, really. (See previous blog: six hours in Wonderland.) I also delivered my first keynote speech for a massive Rotary event on The Ultimatum, began the book I’ve always wanted to write, sang for the grand opening of the North County LGBTQIA Resource Center, performed for the 98th Anniversary of the Mission Bay Yacht Club, hosted our annual Ironman Viewing Party, and even supported a successful marriage proposal on San Diego’s suspension bridge—easily one of the top three most unusual places I’ve ever performed. My calendar filled. My bills got paid. Relief arrived.

May was deeply personal. René and I celebrated 20 years together with a quick getaway to the Wynn Las Vegas to see Awaken, but the real magic happened back home. With the help of dear friends—Caron, Shannon, Pam, and Tamara—I surprised René with a proposal and vow renewal at Coomber Craft Wines in Oceanside. Wings, florals, charcuterie, shells, love everywhere. René was shocked, delighted, and described herself as feeling like a fainting goat. It was perfect.

June rolled in steady and strong with the Encinitas Rotary Wine Festival, new local venues like Bellamy’s, Giaola’s, and Nick & G’s, a joyful Oceanside block party for Jeff and Nancy, and a performance at the Oceanside Museum of Art’s Street Level event. Momentum had returned.

July brought a Thursday residency at Bellamy’s, the final night of my Coomber Craft Wines residency, returning clients, and private birthday celebrations. Familiar faces, familiar joy, renewed confidence.

August surprised me in the best ways. I added a residency at Nick & G’s, flew to upstate New York to sing for a longtime client’s 70th birthday, and soaked in the astonishing greens of the Hudson Valley. I opened for iconic lesbian comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer and was invited to help build a new Wednesday Night Service for Seaside Center for Spiritual Living beginning in 2026. Big seeds planted.

September delivered both community and clarity. I met the “Who’s of San Marcos,” a remarkable group of friends I fell in love with instantly (and thankfully, mutually). I provided my first end-of-life support through sound and song for a beautiful woman named Chris, officiated and sang at two celebrations of life, performed for a wild French party, and headlined the Hillcrest Womxn’s Dance at The Rail—which was fully off the rails in the best way.

October stayed busy with annual favorites like Taste of Oceanside (this year’s VIP party), an animal blessing event with my friend Caron, a 60th birthday celebration, and countless regular performances. One of the year’s most epic parties happened November 1st—a Halloween blowout hosted by the Gearharts, where I performed in full dragonfly glam and pulled off one of my best makeup looks to date. I also facilitated and spoke at the WAVE Forum for event planners as a Corporate Sound Bath Expert, surprising everyone with a performance and planting powerful corporate seeds. Around this time, I began a special matinee performance at one of San Diego’s original gay bars, #1 on Fifth—directly across from my old studio from 20 years ago. Full circle moments everywhere.

December exploded with tree lightings, holiday events, glitter, gratitude, and back-to-back performances. I closed the year singing at Nick & G’s on New Year’s Eve, welcoming in more stability and hope than I’ve felt in the past five years combined.

My Power Word For 2026

I stopped setting resolutions long ago. I use Power Words now. My word for 2025 was Clarity, and that is exactly what this year delivered. For 2026, my word is Alignment. I can already feel it—dreams, visions, and hopes lining up with lived reality. I’m open, willing, and ready for whatever 2026 is bringing.