A lot has happened since the last time I posted something here.
There were more downs than ups, more moments of doubt than certainty. There were days when I honestly didn't think I'd still be here to write another entry. I questioned my place in this world more times than I care to admit.
Some things never really changed. Problems within the family never truly went away. Over the past year, I found myself having to act older than my age—not because I wanted to, but because someone had to.
Professionally, I had to navigate a new team, a new environment, and the revolving door of co-workers who came and went before I could even get to know them. Then there were the misguided old fools, with their pig-headed rules, who seemed determined to knock me down every chance they got. I don't know if they've stopped trying.
What I do know is that I'm still here.
I'm still standing, yeah, yeah, yeah.
There's a quote from Rocky Balboa (2006) that has stayed with me through all of this:
"Life is not about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."
It's a little ironic that one of the most memorable lines in the entire Rocky series came from its legacy sequel—the last true Rocky film before Adonis Creed stepped into the spotlight. But irony aside, it still works. It certainly worked for me.
As if life wasn't already generous with its challenges, I also had the misfortune of being scammed. I lost an amount of money that I simply couldn't afford to lose. Somehow, I forgot every lesson I'd learned about "too-good-to-be-true" investment schemes. It wasn't one of my proudest moments, and I'm still trying to recover from it.
Even so, I'm still here.
There's still a lot I want to write about, and I'll be sharing those stories in the posts to come. For now, though, I'd like to end with this:
I wouldn't have made it this far if it weren't for the support I've received through every setback, detour, and challenge life has thrown my way. That support came in many forms, but above all, it came from one person whose love has carried me through my darkest days.
For that, I will always be grateful.
As long as I can breathe and my eyes can see, this love will endure. And as long as it does, I hope it continues to give life to the future we'll gladly build together.
Thank you, Dani.
Dani (left) and Rem (right) from April 2026
she's the one who's always right though, of course :D
Danica, I will love you always. In all ways.
she's the one who's always right though, of course :D
