The Noise Is Global. The Responsibility Is Local.

January 31, 2026

January is ending, and with it goes a certain illusion.

The illusion that a new calendar year automatically brings clarity.
That momentum sustains itself.
That optimism alone can carry you.

A few weeks of real life tend to sort that out.

One thing that stood out to me this month is just how much noise we are surrounded by now. More than ever. Social media. News. Commentary. Podcasts. Newsletters. Even the well intentioned ones, including this one. Each piece adds something to your mental load. An opinion. A concern. A problem from halfway across the world that your nervous system was never designed to carry.

Taken together, it can feel like everything is unraveling.

But when you step outside, when you go into your actual community, something different shows up. Kids going to school. Neighbors helping neighbors. Coaches running practice. Volunteers setting up chairs. People living their lives and doing their best.

There is a lot of good happening quietly, every day.

The disconnect comes from what we choose to consume versus what we choose to notice.

If January felt heavier than you expected, it doesn’t mean you’re weak or behind. It may simply mean you’re taking in more than you were built to carry. That’s not a character flaw. It’s a signal. You don’t need to know everything. You don’t need to react to everything. You don’t need to hold the weight of the whole world to be a good person or a serious professional.

January was also a reminder of how fragile energy really is. Our house was hit hard by Influenza A. And even when it is just one family member down, it changes everything. The whole system feels heavier. Mornings slow down. Evenings feel longer. The emotional tone of the house shifts.

The same thing happens in teams. In companies. In locker rooms. Energy is contagious, in both directions. You cannot control everyone’s energy, but you are always contributing something. You are either raising the level or pulling it down. There is no neutral.

As the month went on, energy slowly returned. You feel it before you can measure it. More laughter. More movement. More willingness to engage. It reminded me how much leadership is about presence, not position.

At home, Christmas decorations are finally down. That always feels symbolic. One season fully closed. And even though it is still winter on the calendar, it already feels like we are tilting toward spring. In a couple of weeks we will be in Scottsdale for a wedding. A different rhythm. Warmer air. A reminder that change can be both gentle and good. If you are in that area, reach out. I would genuinely enjoy grabbing a cup of coffee and connecting.

Faith has also been a steady anchor this month. We are back into the rhythm of church, and tonight I will be lectoring at St. Charles Borromeo. Standing up there, reading Scripture, seeing familiar faces each week, it recenters me. It shrinks the noise and enlarges what actually matters.

As January closes, I am not thinking about resolutions. I am thinking about discernment.

Be intentional about what you let in.
- Protect your mind.
- Pay attention to the signals closest to you.
- Do something good for your local world.

The noise is global.
Your responsibility is local.

February does not need grand declarations. It just needs clearer inputs, steadier energy, and a longer view.

Back to base camp.