It has been a roller coaster of emotions over the past 11 years. As the old saying goes, “If I had a dollar for every time someone has asked me if I have been keeping a journal so that I can write a book someday”…I’d be a retired cop and a rich man. (if you work in public service you get it)! Looking back on life, I am currently asking myself the same question. With the increase in podcasts, blogs, books, ted talks, reels, and all the social media platforms, society is always wanting to hear others people views, opinions and ideas on life. They want to hear talking about sports, health, food, fashion, family and faith. I have never felt like I had the knowledge or ability in either my voice or written words but I also know that talking to people and reading personal stories of others has helped me in the past so if I can help someone in anyway I am willing to give the effort.

“It is not length of life, but depth of life” RW

Since 2014 I have had so many hats to wear and I am not going to lie….without the help of my family and friends it wouldn’t have been possible. The struggle was heavy with dealing with the grief of losing my wife, a new baby to take care of, a home mortgage, a full-time police detective career and part-time teaching in the law enforcement academy. My main focus was being a daddy to my daughter and giving her as close to the life she would have had if her mother would have been here. It hasn’t been easy but getting to spend time with her through our couch snuggles reading books, to daddy-daughter Saturday morning breakfasts, to watching her on the soccer field are the memories that I am so blessed to get to see as she grows. So back to the reasons why I haven’t been able to journal our life is easy and simple as I just haven’t had the time. I wanted to be a present and involved parent for my child while also doing what I need to allow myself to grieve so that I could be happy in life again and be able to get past my anger of life not going as I had it planned. I’m still hoping to one day complete a book and I just pray that my memory holds up so that with the addition of pictures, all that we have experienced can be put on paper with the goal of it helping someone through whatever challenging times life brings.