Where i want to be 1 year from now



Life’s about to change a little for us.


Right now, me and Melissa are in the middle of moving. We’re going into a new place with a friend of ours, and the biggest thing about it is this—we’re going to be paying about half of what we are now.


That alone takes a lot of pressure off.


They needed some help getting caught up on bills, and we needed something that actually fits our budget. It just made sense. And we’re planning on staying there for about a year and a half—long enough to really get ahead if we do it right.


Max is about to get an upgrade too.


More space, more room to move around, and a new friend—Stitch, our roommate’s pitbull. Considering Max spent most of his life in a small suite and was abandoned twice before we got him, it feels good knowing we’re giving him something better.


That matters to me.


A year from now, I want to still be at my job.


I actually like what I do, and not everyone can say that. But I don’t just want to be there—I want to grow into someone important there. Someone reliable. Someone they count on. And I know the way to get there is simple: just stay consistent.


That’s it.


At the same time, I want to see Melissa’s stationery shop fully up and running.


She’s talented—everything she makes is good. It’s not a question of *if* it’s good, it’s just a matter of how far she can take it. I want to see her getting steady sales, building something that’s hers, something she’s proud of.


She deserves that.


We’re also thinking bigger than just where we are right now.


We’re saving up for a fifth wheel—something we can live in while we stack money and work toward something more permanent. The goal after that is land of our own and a manufactured home. Something that’s ours.


And down the line, we’ve even talked about building a few small cottages and renting them out. Creating something that brings in income and gives us more freedom. It’s not happening overnight, but it’s something we’re working toward step by step.


For me, I’m working on the stock market.


Right now I’ve got about a $1,000 account, and I’m learning how to trade the right way. Not gambling. Not chasing. Just staying controlled, staying disciplined. I’ve been pretty consistent so far, and when I lose, I keep it small—that’s the key.


A year from now, I want that account at $5,000.


And not just that—I want to have an emergency fund sitting in the bank too. Something solid. Something that gives us a little breathing room.


Another big part of my life right now is my daughter, Jayda.


We recently reconnected. Right now it’s mostly messages, but even that means everything to me. She’s grown into such a beautiful, kind, thoughtful person. Her mom did an amazing job raising her.


I carry a lot of regret not being there for her physically.


I can’t change the past, but I can show up now.


In the next year, I’m hoping she comes out to visit. I want to spend real time together. Start making up for what I missed, even if it’s one step at a time.


And then there’s something that’s been building in me for a while.


Ever since I worked with glulam beams, I’ve had this fascination with building things out of solid wood. I haven’t had the space or setup to really start—but that’s going to change.


A year from now, I want my own setup.


Even if it’s small.


I want to build my first table and sell it. Just one. That’s how it starts.


And I’ve got to be real about something else too.


My mental health matters.


Staying consistent with my meds is a big part of keeping everything together. I’ve learned the hard way what happens when I don’t. Things slowly fall apart. So that’s not optional—that’s part of the foundation.


And through all of this…


Melissa’s been there.


Through everything.


She’s stuck by me, supported me, believed in me—even when things weren’t easy. I don’t take that lightly. I love her more than I can really put into words.


So when I think about where I want to be a year from now, it’s not about being rich or having everything figured out.


It’s about this:


More stability.

More progress.

More consistency.

And still having the same people by my side.


If we can do that…


We’re on the right track.


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