I hope you’ll forgive me for revisiting this topic again. I’m mindful that everyone has their own challenges and responsibilities, and I truly don’t want to add to anyone’s burden.
Lately, life has felt especially chaotic and uncertain. The one constant that grounded me was my wife and our family. While I know I’ll always have my family, I’m facing the painful possibility that my marriage may not endure the coming year. It’s a difficult reality to process, especially when we’ve shared what I believe was a strong and loving relationship.
I’ve been doing my best to navigate these emotions and understand their root causes. I’ve realized that I sometimes misdirect my feelings, reacting strongly to unrelated situations. I’m working on being more mindful and intentional about identifying what’s truly affecting me, so I can address it in a healthier way.
Yesterday was particularly challenging. I started the day feeling off, and my first meeting was with an employee who reports to me and is currently on FMLA. It appears he may not be able to return to full-time, in-person work, and HR asked me to present him with the available options once his leave ends. He’s a dedicated team member who’s also going through a tough time, and having to deliver that message was incredibly difficult. Later, I came across a discussion about the struggles of working-class Americans, and it just hit me hard. I ended up closing my office door and sitting quietly for an hour, trying to gather the energy to continue with the day.
Our family is facing its own set of challenges. My middle daughter is going through a rough patch, and my youngest has recently started a program designed to support children with autism. At this point, every member of our family is working with a counselor or psychiatrist. It’s a lot to carry, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t exhausting.
I do believe there’s light at the end of this tunnel, even if right now it feels like I’m still far from it and surrounded by darkness.
I also want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to this community. Over the years, your support has meant more to me than I can say. I’ve gained so much from being part of this group, and I truly appreciate each of you.