In 2020, my life felt like it was falling apart. My wife chose to prioritize another man over our family, and at the same time, I had to close my business due to government restrictions. Everything I had worked so hard to build—my marriage, my business, my sense of stability—seemed to crumble all at once.
I won’t sugarcoat it. It was devastating. The betrayal hurt deeply, and losing my business on top of it left me feeling untethered and alone. For years, I had poured everything I had into being a good husband, father, and business owner. I had sacrificed my health, my passions, and my own well-being for others, always putting my own needs last. And suddenly, it all felt like it was gone.
But here’s the thing: while it felt like I had lost everything, I hadn’t.
Even in the midst of that pain, I realized I still had so much to be grateful for. I had two incredible children who needed me to be strong for them. I lived in paradise, surrounded by the beauty of nature, which provided a constant reminder that life goes on. And most importantly, I had my health. While I felt alone and broken, I still had the strength and the opportunity to rebuild.
That gratitude became my anchor. It reminded me that while I couldn’t control what had happened, I could control how I responded. I could either let the pain define me, or I could use it as fuel to become a better man, father, and human being.
So, I made a choice. I stopped drinking—a habit I had leaned on to cope with stress and feelings of inadequacy. I started working out again, rediscovering the strength and energy I had lost. I cleaned up my diet, began taking better care of myself, and started listening to my own needs for the first time in years.
But more than that, I chose to focus on gratitude every day. I reminded myself of the things I still had, the blessings I had taken for granted, and the opportunities I had to grow.
Rebuilding wasn’t easy, and I’ll be honest—there were moments when I felt completely alone. But gratitude kept me going. It reminded me that I wasn’t starting from nothing. I still had love in my life, I still had my health, and I still had the chance to create something better.
If you’re going through a moment where it feels like everything is falling apart, I want to tell you this: it’s not over. Even when it feels like you’ve lost everything, there is still something to hold onto, something to build on.
I’m grateful for the chance to start over, for the lessons I’ve learned, and for the opportunity to show my kids what resilience looks like.
Have you ever been in a moment where everything seemed lost, but you found something to be grateful for? What helped you rebuild? Share your story in the comments or drop me a DM—I’d love to hear how gratitude shaped your journey.