2017 was undoubtedly the most topsy-turvy year of my life. But looking back on it, I wouldn’t trade the valleys for mountain tops, the rain for sun, or the bocadillos for ice cream. And what a year — I sold a house, pretty much became a homeless guy, retired from the Army, my father had a stroke, my grandfather passed away, both my parents were hospitalized off and on, I wandered 1,000mi+ across France and Spain on foot, buried friends, helped friends move away, lost friends, made friends, lost love, found love, reunited with friends, my brother got married, I wandered 7,000mi+ around the US on motorcycle, and my beautiful kids continued to grow into awesome humans.
The highs varied so vastly in comparison to the lows, that when the days seemed meh or fair-to-middling, I felt I would drown in the doldrums of dreariness. Maybe, I’m not adjusting well to life after the military, after all.
But I loved this year… my mind, body, and soul, even my finances were tested, twisted, and strained in such a way that I could do nothing but pray. Often those prayers would be one or two-word prayers — “dude!” “seriously?” “come on!” “help!” “say what?” A significant amount of the prayers in my life this year were answered in the forms of love, kindness, and graciousness shown to me by friends, loved ones, or complete strangers. So to each and everyone one of you that touched my life this year, thank you… with all the pieces of my heart, thank you. It’s been my favorite year of life, yet!
Happy New Year.
Sometimes you come across things you need to read and this was it.
At 49 I never thought I would have to start my life over but here I am…scared out of my wits with no idea how I am going to do this.
But reading about you has inspired me. I may be broken inside, but that doesn’t mean I cannot fix it.
Thank you for your service and thank you for sharing your story.