This year has been kicking my ass so far, and while I have been waiting for the tide to turn and things to get easier, one thing that keeps me going is the pride I feel for not giving in to what I know to be untrue.
I have been denied employment, housing, and pushed to the brink of financial ruin because I refuse to shut up, and I refuse to go along with the narrative that things are okay, and that Covid and the damage it is causing is acceptable.
I have been labeled a "crazy", told I was a fear monger, called a liar, ostracized, and treated like I am a bad person for wanting people to be safe and healthy, and during this journey I have used the adversity to fuel me, instead of letting it bury me.
Some days/weeks have been very difficult, and worse than others, and if bad luck was an olympic sport I would be a gold medalist, but I find ways to find the positives and something to look forward to.
I have been doing every single thing in my power to scrape by, to stay in the fight, and to keep sharing the message that I feel has to be shared, and in the process, I have thrown out ego, abandoned the all sense of shame, and detached from anything that would dissuade me continuing to care, and more importantly to show it.
Help has come along the way, and I have had some really great people support my efforts, and show me that they value the message and the way that I share it, and this too has led me to find reasons to push on and stay consistent. For those who have helped me along the way, in any way, I am grateful beyond description.
I wish there was no need for a guy like me, I wish there was nothing out there harming people, and I wish I could never hear the word Covid again, but we aren't there yet.
Until the time comes when the experts tell me that our kids are safe, and there is no need for me and my advocate friends, I have to keep pushing, and doing everything I can to stay in the game. Until the time comes I will keep being inspired by the many who push on while dealing with chronic illness, and those who share the correct message regardless of the scrutiny they face.
I do not enjoy passing my "virtual hat" around the world, asking for help so that I can help others and stay afloat, but pride has no place in this type of fight and I was never one to back down, even when the odds are against me.
2026 has been kicking my ass so far, so I'm going to do what I always do, tie my shoes tighter, take a deep breath, and start kicking ass back.
It can't rain every day right?