01.28.2025

It’s my last night at home, and honestly, it feels surreal. I have spent the past few weeks doing everything I can to make life easier for my wife and kids while I’m away. My OCD has been in overdrive—writing out manuals, leaving instructions, organizing every little thing. It’s my way of helping, I guess. I just want to take as much off their plate as possible, even if it’s something small.

And when I wasn’t organizing, I was cooking. I’ve been whipping up all kinds of meals—things I would never even tried before. Watching my kids, my wife, and my dad light up when they take that first bite? Man, that feeling is everything. It’s like when I would help a customer design their dream renovation or when I would see a happy RbA customer. That sense of “I did something good for someone” always hits different.

But tonight? It’s hitting me hard. Tomorrow, I’m leaving this life behind for a while. I won’t be sleeping in my bed or laughing with my kids or sharing meals with my family. That reality is settling in more than I expected.

Still, I have been thinking a lot about how to use the next few months. I don’t just want to get through this—I want to do something with it. I have been tossing around ideas on how to track my days, kind of like my Apple Watch does with steps and calories. But instead of physical stats, I want to document what I’m learning, what I’m feeling, and how I’m growing. Books I read, skills I pick up, moments that matter—it all feels worth recording.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about what’s ahead. I don’t know what life inside will look like or how I will adjust, but I’m trying to stay focused on what I can do. It’s not about just getting by—it’s about finding meaning, even in a situation like this.

So, this is where I’m at. Sitting in my kitchen one last time, surrounded by the love of my family, knowing tomorrow everything changes. It’s a lot to take in, but I’m holding on to the hope that this isn’t the end of anything—just the start of a new chapter.