Unreal. · 9:04pm Aug 16th, 2022
Hello all. Like always when I make posts on here these days... it's been a while, eh?
I do not even know where to begin, exactly. I know it has been an eternity since I posted a piece of writing on here, and that even includes blog posts... but that's okay.
Just 3 years ago, I never would have thought I could have ever ended up where I am at right now. I was a depressed, directionless, borderline alcoholic burnout who felt totally alone in the world... someone who wanted to die on a daily basis and who didn't think he could ever, in a million years, get back to his own two feet.
So much has happened since what I can now safely say was my turning point on December 14, 2019, when I decided I was going to lose weight and be healthy... I lost almost 100 lbs and have kept it off for two years. I got COVID twice and made it through brain fog both times. I made it through my third and fourth year of my doctoral program, crushed my comps exams, defended my dissertation successfully, and graduated with my doctorate in May. I maintained my relationship with my three roommates from grad school, who ended up becoming my closest friends in the world even after moving apart geographically over a year ago.
In addition to maintaining relationships, I made a new one, too... I have a girlfriend, now. She is a wonderful angel and I love her to bits. I got it bad, man. 
We've been dating several months now, and honestly? I'm feeling pretty good about this one. 
And I am currently being hired onto a well-paying position in my field and am independently living in my new apartment, in a nice area of town, by myself... something which I never could have thought possible 3 years ago.
Just for giggles, I read back through some of my blogs from years past... it's incredible how different I feel about, well, everything now. And I have y'all to thank for bearing with me and even helping me when I was in a pit of despair and darkness. I got real, sincere support and help from so many people on here... and while I definitely should have gotten professional help a whole lot sooner, I am so thankful for it all. Thank you.
This is not a goodbye post, for the record... although on a list of my life's priorities right now, writing stories on this site is much further down on the list than it was several years ago, lol. And I had issues with writing hiatuses THEN... 
But still... I haven't abandoned here. Not entirely, anyhow!
I hope y'all are doing okay. The world is kind of crazy and fucked up, and it seems to be getting worse in a lot of ways... but I'm gonna keep doing what I can. Thank y'all again.
~Arwhale
Happy to hear you're doing so well!
The world gets better in some ways and worse in others. So the cycle of life goes. I'm glad you found your way off the road and back to a place where you're happy.
I legit had a smile on my face upon reading how you were able to turn your life around. It's good to know you're doing much better now. You're kicking ass! Keep at it.
Congrats, I’m really glad to hear your doing well, you were one of the first authors I followed on here so it’s always good to hear how your doing. Congrats on the doctorate (I’ve been thinking of doing that), if I remember right it was related to audiology, but not patient focused right? That’s a ton of work.
The weight loss is really inspiring, I’m trying to loose around that or more so it’s l ways good to hear about the successes.
That's great to hear, young man! Been rooting for you all this time!
Yo, that's huge! Congrats, my man!
Congrats, man... and I mean it! Judging by your blogs, you went to hell and back, and that's really something to be proud of
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This is the kind of news I would like to hear more often. It gives you some hope that the world is not a complete dumpster fire
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Good luck, man
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Glad to hear you're doing well.