Turning the Page
Starting Over?
If the past few years have taught me anything, it’s that life has a way of humbling you — and teaching you — all at once. The moments that break you often end up being the ones that shape you most.
I want to share something deeply personal.
After 23 years of marriage and building a beautiful family, I never imagined I’d find myself here — divorced, with friendships that have faded, businesses that have closed, and jobs that didn’t work out. Stranded far from home, in a vehicle that can’t move. Starting over isn’t easy.
Lately, life has been a mix of loss, lessons, and quiet reflection. And while I’m learning to accept the changes, what weighs heaviest isn’t what’s gone — it’s the fear of disappointing the people I love.
I feel that deeply. Every day.
I’ve learned that adversity isn’t the enemy; it’s the teacher. Every failure, every heartbreak, every detour has forced me to look inward and ask who I really am, what I truly value, and what kind of man I want to become.
We don’t always get to choose our circumstances, but we do get to choose what we take from them. And I’m choosing to take the lessons, the clarity, and the quiet strength that only come from being stripped down to the essentials.
This season isn’t the end of my story — it’s a stepping stone. A chance to rebuild with intention, to live more authentically, and to walk a path toward something more grounded, more grateful, and maybe even more enlightened than before.
I once said that after my divorce, we closed the first volume in the Book of Brian and cracked open Volume Two. What I need to remember now is that each book contains many chapters — and if I’m going to close this one, I have to keep turning the pages.
Maybe that’s the real lesson in all of this — that even when life feels like it’s fallen apart, there’s still something worth holding onto. Hope.
Hope that the next chapter will make sense of the last.
Hope that the people who matter will see your heart, not your mistakes.
Hope that the broken pieces can be rebuilt into something stronger, wiser, and more meaningful than before.
I don’t have all the answers, and maybe I never will. But I do have hope — and sometimes, that’s enough.
Enough to get up.
Enough to try again.
Enough to keep turning the pages.
Check out our Travel Guides playlist on our YouTube Channel. We currently have five videos to help guide your next Oregon journey.
Vanlife Update
As for Ruby, the van, and me — we’re still here, parked and waiting. The same DEF issues continue to keep us grounded. At this point, it looks like we’ll need to have an authorized Ram service center take a closer look. Apparently, they’re the only ones equipped with the tools to properly diagnose and fix the problem.
The challenge? The nearest Ram diesel service center is about 35 miles away. With the van stuck in limp mode and unable to go over 5 mph, we can’t get there without a tow. That alone will cost several hundred dollars — before any repairs even begin.
If we’re lucky, the fix could be under $500 total. But it could just as easily climb into the thousands. Either way, it’s more than I have right now. I’ve been working hard to grow Rogue Branding, and while we’ve recently brought on a new client (sadly that account still sits unpaid — now over $5,000 past due). In the meantime, I’ve been looking for local work and exploring online opportunities to keep things moving forward.
If you’d like to lend a hand you would be an angel. I have a Venmo account where you can make a one-time donation. Your support — in any form — means the world to us. And if donating isn’t an option, even shopping our affiliate partners for things you will buy anyway or becoming a member helps more than you know.
Another way to help is to check out our YouTube Channel and watch some travel guide videos. If you do, please subscribe, like, comment, and share as that will help get the channel picked up by the algorithm and seen by more viewers.
Thank you for following along on this journey, through every mile — even the ones we haven’t been able to drive yet.
P.S. I’m still dealing with those relentless no-see-um bites too. If anyone has a miracle cure — I’m all ears (and itchy ankles).
