Help Shape the Future of Always Hope
Hello Always Hope friends!
Grace and peace be with you.
It’s been a while since we’ve talked (considering that I haven’t published an episode since June). But thanks for opening this inaugural newsletter and for your continuous support of Always Hope!
Where have I been? I’d like to say that I got off the grid, travelled the world, had many adventures, and saw all sorts of amazing spectacles, but that would be a lie. The truth is that it was a hard summer. I hit a wall and desperately needed to stop, regroup, and assess what was working and what wasn’t. It has been over a year since I left Willwoods and taking on the full responsibility of the show was more taxing than I ever imagined. In today’s episode, I go into more detail about the struggle bus I was on.
Over the past four months, I asked many big questions about my desires, what is possible, and learning to live within the confines of my reality. In the end, I couldn’t shake the feeling that creating Always Hope is what I’m supposed to be doing. So, I am pressing onward with new ideas for how to make it more valuable to you. And that means building community.
In a fragmented world, Always Hope provides a space where folks come together united by a desire for clarity without bs. I’ve always considered this show as a course correction to the prosperity gospel that lingers in our day. There is a path forward through uncertainty. We don’t need to sell gimmicks to get there, rather, simply appeal to time-tested best practices, like steadiness, honesty, faith, truth, love, courage, and hope. That may not sound sexy or flashy, but they work. Here you will find solutions to a better life.
The first step in building community is this newsletter, The Beacon. Let me be up upfront and say that I will not spam your inbox! Typically, 1-2 emails per week. My goal is to use this email as another point of connection with you. For years, I thought social media was the way to communicate, but I was deeply mistaken and now looking for emails to be that place of conversation. Keep an eye for The Beacon dropping into your inbox!
The second step is the development of a paid community, Always Hope Together. It’ll be a place where we meet regularly for live Q&A’s, have access to my talks, do special events as a community (like Advent virtual retreats), and can take learning to another level. I’m viewing this community as my ongoing life and human formation seminar, where deeper discussions about what leads to a flourishing life emerge along with clear strategies for achieving it.
This is all preliminary and I need your help to make this happen! Please complete the following survey to provide your input and help shape the future of Always Hope. I can’t do this without you and need to know what you want.
Lastly, I am incredibly humbled by all of you who give me your time and attention. I am truly sorry that I dropped off this summer without any communication. But I’m back and ready to keep going! Emails like these will help me be a better communicator to you and I’m looking forward to seeing where the Lord leads us. Please continue listening and sharing Always Hope.
Bye for now,
Dr. Mario
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