Valentine’s Day: From Freedom to Love

Three years ago, on Valentine’s Day, I walked into a courthouse and filed the final paperwork for my divorce. Yeah, I did that on purpose. For years, Valentine’s Day, like most “special” days of the year, was just another reminder of stress, tension, and trying (and failing) to meet the expectations of someone who could never be satisfied. No matter what I did, it wasn’t enough. So, when it was time to make my divorce official, I decided to take the day back. Instead of letting it be a reminder of exhaustion and disappointment, I marked it as Freedom Day, a personal milestone of breaking free from something that had drained me for far too long.

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Holidays, family, and changes ahead

Christmas with my sons Kirkpatrick and William, and Katie (William’s GF)

On this Christmas Day, as 2022 ends, I find myself focused on the future and not so much the past. I’m talking near-term future as so much potentially is going to change. It’s not like this year wasn’t full of change. Oh boy, was it. It’s just that what I expect to unfold in 2023 has me super excited, and I must admit, a bit unnerved. Before I get into what’s ahead in 2023, a brief retrospective seems important to set the stage.

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