As I look back on the recent years of my life, much has changed. There have been fun times, sad times, good times, and bad times, all the while I've been building myself and my life story. So much has happened and to be completely honest, I'm thankful for every bit of it. All of my experiences, both positive and negative have made me a stronger me, a more confident me, a happier me, and truly a more complete better me. This spills into every aspect of my life; as an employee, as a father, as a son, as a boyfriend, as a man.
2010 was the year my life really changed; all that previously was would no longer be and a scary new future loomed ahead. Not scary in that bad things would happen, but scary because change always presents things you aren't prepared for and in this case my changes were to be confronted alone. Although I welcomed all that was to come, it was a true departure from the past. The paths that I had previously trod as part of team, I began to walk alone. This was true from a professional standpoint, as I transitioned from a large department with many peers to a new department in a new job in a position that was just created... with no peers at all. It was also true from a personal perspective, as I ventured out a single man after 10 years of marriage; where I once had a partner, I found myself on my own. Mentally, socially, professionally, spiritually, in every shape and form things would be different from this point forward.
2011 was the year (and at the moment is still the year) that all the wheels were put in motion. I began that trek toward some destination unknown. The scary time had passed months before and a new beginning was upon me. There was an opportunity in front of me and I had to make a decision: stay the course or realign; considering that previously I really didn't have a course, that I just tended to go with the flow, I felt it was best to realign (or better yet, align for the first time), decide what things are important to me and make those my priorities. What I found is there are a number of important aspects of my life. On the most basic level, what matters most to me is deeply rooted in the health, safety and happiness of my children as well as myself. In addition, I had some lacking parts of my life that needed some work. I was neither socially fulfilled, nor financially stable. Surely this is no big surprise; at the collapse of a marriage one finds oneself in a new social atmosphere and typically in poor financial standing... and I was no exception. All this being said, , I wanted to ensure that I put my sons and I in a good financial environment, a good social environment, and I wanted to ensure that the people we surround ourselves from this point forward are good, positive, caring people.
As 2012 approaches, I can't help but be excited. My life and the lives of my children are what I would call "in order". Jackson and Alex are both doing well in school; they are not only involved in athletics but also really excelling to a greater extent than I'd have imagined; they're healthy and all-around doing great. They are happy, wonderful kids and I'm so proud to be their father. I personally find myself moving in very positive direction financially; my career is joy and very fulfilling; I have a great base of positive friends that I love spending time with; my boys are a constant blessing; my parents and brother are pillars of light in my life as they always have been; I'm involved with an amazing woman who cares about me and my happiness more so than anyone I've ever been with; likewise I love her and want to make sure she and her kids are as happy as they've ever been. Jackson and Alex really like her and her kids are their best friends. I couldn't have written a better script leading into the new year. I know this is no fairy tale and life often throws curve-balls our way when we least expect them, but all-in-all 2012 is stacking up to the greatest year of my life. I can't wait to see what the future brings.
