Ten years ago, I made a decision that would change everything.

I told my heart that the fear of suffering was worse than the suffering itself. That no heart has ever truly suffered when it’s in pursuit of its dreams. A truth I borrowed from “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho and one I held onto like a lifeline.

So I muted my fears, packed my bags, and got on a plane.

I left behind friends, family, history, memories, and more tears than I could count. I stepped into the unknown with nothing but hope and a suitcase.

And then, reality hit.

The fears I had hushed became louder than ever.
Within months, I was broken completely.

There were nights I felt like I was drowning.
Days where the light at the end of the tunnel seemed like a cruel joke.

But what I didn’t know then is that sometimes you have to be broken to become whole.

You can’t become new if you’re not willing to start over.
You can’t dream yourself into the person you want to be,
you have to hammer and forge yourself into that version.
With time, grit, and yes, pain.

And when you find yourself in that dark place, here’s what I’ve learned:

It’s okay to fail.
It’s okay to get it wrong.
There are no mistakes in life,only lessons.

You have to hurt in order to know.
Fall in order to grow.
And most importantly, lose in order to gain.

Now, ten years later,
I see it all so clearly.

Back then, I was broken.

Now, I am whole.

I’m not my best yet, but I’m trying every day.

And I’m happy—not because everything is perfect, but because I’ve stopped tying my happiness to circumstances. I tie it to my attitude.

So thank you, Dallas. Thank you, Texas.
You were the place where I fell apart and the place where I found myself again.

My version 3.0.

August 25, 2015 – August 25, 2025