<p>This week I take an evening walk through the woods during a heatwave and reflect on a surprising decision: skipping one of my favorite events of the year.</p><p>Comic Con Holland was happening just down the road. Friends were there. Authors I admire were there. Under normal circumstances, I would have spent the entire weekend interviewing writers, meeting readers, and soaking up inspiration.</p><p>Instead, I stayed home.</p><p>In this episode I talk about why I made that choice, how the fear of missing out can quietly undermine focus, and what I'm learning about protecting my energy and attention so I can return to the work that matters most.</p><p>I also share updates on my summer plans, my struggle to catch up with podcast production after the Camino, and my ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable rhythm for writing and creative work.</p><p>Along the way, I reflect on two stories that unexpectedly inspired me this weekend: the emotional finale of <em>Young Sheldon</em> and the animated film <em>Transformers One</em>. Both reminded me why storytelling matters and challenged me to bring more emotional depth to my own novels.</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Father Roderick at <a href="https://fatherroderick.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">fatherroderick.substack.com/subscribe</a>