A letter of appreciation to the community
I will try to keep this as short as possible, but I may not be able to get all the words out.
For the better part of 20 years, I have not been a social media guy. I get on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to see how everyone’s life is going but rarely ever post or comment on others posts. To me, social media has a certain toxicity that I don’t want to be a part of.
But in this community, I have found some of the best advice and tried to give advice to all of the single and divorced dads who are going through a tough time. I have posted a lot over the last few weeks, and every post garners a lot of men who have shared some really good advice and perspective that I haven’t found elsewhere.
My divorce is still pretty fresh. I split from my ex of 12 years back in December, after so many years of just being miserable. This is not to say I was the perfect husband. I work a lot, I carry a lot of stress sometimes, have a temper that can be set off by something as little as a cup spilling on the floor (all things I have spent months in therapy for). But I will always stand firm that I loved my family and did every thing for them that I thought was right. I never cheated, I never shied away from any of their needs, I always talked my kids through their problems, and I always came home and to bed every night. The things a man is supposed to do.
I just want to say thank you to everyone who has interacted with my posts and comments, and who had shared their personal experiences. Your knowledge and your perspective is invaluable. As someone who can overthink, and jump to the worst possible outcome, hearing others stories has dug me out of some deep emotional holes at times.
My only hope is to share my experience with others, and that they will find some peace in my story. Men carry a lot of mental and emotional weight. We deserve to take care of ourselves too. The light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter every day.