Wow...A lot can happen in four years!!
Lives change.
Plans change.
People change.
Mine certainly did.
When I disappeared from this blog, I had no idea life was about to take me on the most challenging—and ultimately the most rewarding—journey I've ever experienced.
Today, I'm finally ready to tell that story.
First things first...
Our family of four is now a family of three.
A New Chapter
After roughly 22 years together and just under 17 years of marriage, my ex-wife and I decided it was time to go our separate ways.
There is obviously much more to the story, but this blog isn't going to become a place for blame, gossip, or airing dirty laundry. That chapter belongs in the past.
What I will say is something I never imagined I'd be able to say a few years ago:
Life is really, really good.
Getting here wasn't easy. There were setbacks, heartbreak, uncertainty, and plenty of difficult lessons. But every challenge shaped the person I am today, and looking back, I wouldn't trade any of those experiences.
For the first time in a long time, I'm genuinely excited about what lies ahead.
Rediscovering Myself
If there's one thing divorce forced me to do, it was rediscover who I was.
Over the past four years I've grown emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I honestly feel healthier than I have in more than a decade.
I've started saying "yes" to experiences that used to make me uncomfortable—new adventures, new foods, new hobbies, and opportunities I probably would have passed up before.
Growth really does happen outside your comfort zone.
An Unexpected Promotion
Technically, I never changed employers.
I simply found myself leading the department.
It wasn't a position I ever expected to hold, and if I'm being honest, I still experience moments where I wonder if I belong.
Then another challenge comes along, I work through it, and that little voice of doubt gets a little quieter each time.
The responsibility has increased tremendously, but so has the sense of purpose and fulfillment. It's only been two years, but it's already become one of the most rewarding chapters of my career.
(And yes...there are definitely some pretty nice perks that I'll probably write about in future posts.)
Starting Over
One of the biggest changes came during the divorce.
I made the decision to leave my ex the family home so I could preserve my pension and retirement accounts.
Thankfully, that decision worked out better than I could have hoped.
I know many people who go through divorce end up struggling financially for years, and I don't take for granted that our situation was different. We had spent many years building a solid foundation together, and I'm incredibly thankful that it gave us options.
Because of that, my kids were able to remain in the home they grew up in, keeping a sense of stability during an already difficult time. At the same time, I was fortunate enough to purchase a nearby home of my own rather than having to rent.
It wasn't the future I had envisioned, but I'm grateful it allowed both my children and me to begin the next chapter from a place of stability.
There are a lot of stories behind that journey, and I can't wait to share them.
Retirement Reimagined
Before the divorce, my goal was simple:
Retire both of us when I turn 55. That would have been roughly 12-months from now!
But life had other plans.
Today, retirement looks different—but surprisingly, even better.
Instead of retiring at 55, the new target is 58, roughly two months after my son graduates from high school.
The unexpected twist?
I now expect to retire more comfortably than I originally planned.
That entire journey—from rebuilding finances to investing, budgeting, and preparing for retirement—deserves its own series of posts.
What's Next?
If you're wondering what this blog will become...
Honestly, so am I.
But that's what makes it exciting.
Over the coming weeks and months, I'll be writing about rebuilding after divorce, raising teenagers, career growth, personal finance, retirement planning, adventures, trying new restaurants, health and fitness, and all the unexpected lessons that come with starting over in your 50s.
Some posts will be practical.
Some will be personal.
Some will simply be about enjoying life a little more than I used to.
One thing is certain:
This blog is alive again!!
Thanks for sticking around—or for finding it for the very first time.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a World Cup Final to watch... followed by the glamorous world of Sunday adulting before another busy week begins.
See you soon!!
