Alcohol, Marriage, Personal Growth and More
Refusing to Settle. Choosing Peace. Living Free.
Today, an attorney filed a divorce petition, symbolizing years of emotional exhaustion. Despite moving out five months ago, memories of conflict linger. Subtle criticisms during interactions reaffirmed the need for separation. While empathy remains, the author recognizes that peace, freedom, and respect are unattainable in a relationship marked by constant invalidation.
Tonight I’m writing from a place I never expected to be again: the house I used to call home. I’m here temporarily while my wife is in Chicago visiting her family for Christmas week. I am helping with the dogs, sleeping in the same bed where I spent so many nights trying to convince myself... Continue Reading →
The last couple of years have been rough. My marriage fell apart, leading to a separation. I got hit with a medical diagnosis that shook me pretty good. I’ve fought with alcohol, worked on my health, and am trying to figure out who I am and what I want. It’s been a lot, and the... Continue Reading →
Good health isn’t just about looking fit, and it’s not only about lowering your risk of disease. The truth is, time will pass — 5, 10, 20 years — and eventually, the bill comes due for the habits and choices we make today. Many people treat health like a trade: “I’ll enjoy my food and... Continue Reading →
Of all the things I’ve been through in life—and at 53, there are plenty—nothing was harder than my struggle with alcohol. As I sit here writing, I still can’t find words that do the pain justice. Hell. Despair. Misery. Imprisoned.That’s about as close as I can get to describing what it felt like in the... Continue Reading →
Over the past couple of years, I’ve been through some of the hardest times of my life—facing marriage struggles, breaking free from alcohol, navigating a serious health scare, and figuring out who I am when old patterns no longer worked for me. Somewhere along the way, I began to notice that the habits and mindsets... Continue Reading →
The journey to this point has been brutal.It’s worn me down in ways I never thought possible. Heck, in ways I never knew could be possible. And while I’m still standing, I’m not the same man I was. Not even close. This didn’t happen overnight.It happened slowly, over years—until one day I realized the version... Continue Reading →
For years, I’ve been caught in an emotional whirlwind, wrestling with a deeply personal decision:Do I keep fighting for a marriage that’s carved painful and permanent scars? Or do I finally summon the courage to step away and reclaim my life? Writing this isn’t just therapeutic—it’s my reminder, my accountability, and maybe a lifeline to... Continue Reading →
My therapist recently gave me an exercise to help clarify what truly matters to me—to reconnect with who I am at my core. After more than a decade of emotional and verbal abuse, I’ve been left rebuilding everything: my thoughts, my feelings, my sense of self. If you’ve never experienced this kind of abuse, that... Continue Reading →
For years, I didn’t realize I was being emotionally and verbally abused. There were no bruises, no screaming fights. Just constant tension, confusion, and the slow erosion of my sense of self. It was the perfect example of death by a 1000 cuts. Eye rolls, snapping of fingers, walking away, the criticism disguised as advice,... Continue Reading →
Alcohol, Marriage, Personal Growth and More 