Winter Update: The Proof Is In The Pudding

Recently, I've been thinking that I've posted a lot about politics, music, sports, and other stuff but nothing much about me. With that in mind, I think that the time is about right for an update.

If any of you know me, you know that 2009 was the year from hell. Relationships crumbled, my truck broke down on the 55 fwy at 12:30 am, work stress, brokenness, and at least one mental breakdown.

From the outset, I purposed in my heart that 2010 would be a better year for me. I took some proactive steps and they have paid off. The biggest and hardest thing to do was to cut off any and all communication with someone that I dated for 3 years. That was incredibly difficult. I tried to be a friend but towards the end, I just couldn't handle it anymore. It was a toxic relationship and I had to be done with it once and for all. So, on December 5th, I sent my last text and I haven't looked back since. About a week before Christmas, was eating lunch with a good friend of mine who was dealing with a similar situation. She empathized with my problems and supplied me with the resolve that I needed to continue on. I don't know why everything all of a sudden clicked in my brain but after that conversation, I was determined to take the next step in reclaiming my life. I lost my way for a few years. Of course, there were moments that I will always cherish but the level of heartache that I endured overshadowed everything else.

Since then, lo' & behold, my life has gotten dramatically better. My mind is clear and I feel restored. I am making decisions for myself and not just to please someone. I am myself. Joe Pena is back again! The clouds have parted and everyday is getting easier. I am working out 4x a week, my debt is almost gone, and with any luck I'll be able to put a good down payment on a car in a few months. This process was a tremendous learning experience. I've learned just about every lesson one could endure in a situation such as my own.

Now to wrap this up, if there is one word that could best describe my year so far, it would be: focused. I feel that I've layed the ax to the root of my problems and this entry has demonstrated that the proof is in the pudding. 1/3 of the year is almost in the books. I have great expectations for what the rest of 2010 holds!