When the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2016, it will kick off Year One of the Rebuild for me. I know that statement sounds exteremely confusing,but I’ll explain why I said it in just a moment. First,here’s how my year went.

It started out with tragedy as we lost my father Dan suddenly at the age of 55. It was something none of us were prepared for and he’s somebody we miss today as I write to you. While we miss him and always will,what’s guided myself and my family through are all the wonderful people we’re blessed to know and love and who are and have been there through everything for us,you know who you are and I hope you know that myself and my family are appreciative that you’re in our lives.

Super Bowl Sunday was one of the first times I showed myself after his death. Usually when my team is in a championship game or series, I mostly hide away so that nobody either bothers me or calls me, but this was a different circumstance in that I was ready to see some of my friends again for the first time since Dad passed away. My Patriots won 28-24 that day and I hate to say it,but I feel like divine intervention came into effect when Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson at the 1-yard line. Be a hater if you want,but for me that was a moment of joy that I needed after having been through what I went through the week prior.

There’s a lot of events,though,that I wish my Dad could have been around for. On the last day of March I made a bold move to purchase my first brand new car, a 2015 Honda CR-V that I named Regina. It was a scary move that I admit afterwards to having remorse for a brief period of even doing it because I felt in a way Dad would’ve been a little disheartened by it,but honestly my old car was getting harder and harder to maintain and I’ve worked very hard to deserve a new vehicle,so I got one. I absolutely love it and I’m glad to be driving it. If anyone is in the market for a small-ish SUV, I recommend the CR-V, you’ll absolutely love it as much as I love mine!

A week after buying a new car, the splurge continued as I went to Disneyland again. I hadn’t planned on being an annual pass holder,but since my fondness and love for the place has grown to unexplainable heights, it made sense for me to obtain one. I actually think it’s a viable thing to get one because you get discounts with it and also if you make a point to go a few times with it during the course of the year,it’s worth it! I went back again in October to see the place in Halloween Mode and it was amazing! I did throw my back out on our final day. Man,I’m getting old!

Before my October trip, my family and I found out that my brother and my sister-in-law will be expecting their first child,a girl,in late April. She will be my first niece and my mom finally gets her first grandbaby! We’re all very excited that our family is growing,although I do wish Dad was alive to see this,he would’ve been an awesome grandpa!

While there were many great achievements and milestones, for me professionally has been absolutely trying. Not long after my dad passed away,my office manager and the man who hired me to the job I’m currently at announced he was leaving and moving on to headquarters. While I didn’t admit it at the time, that announcement almost caused my heart to jump out of my chest. His departure was just as hard as my dad passing away. After he left, I did go through a long period where I became very burned out on the job and I think it showed with a lot of my colleagues. I don’t know how they were able to put up with me. Unfortunately the morale where I work has dropped dramatically and I honestly don’t know what the future has in store for me with me continuing in the office I’m at, but I am keeping a lot of options open and I know that I’m going to land in the right position wherever that may be. What I don’t know is when that will happen.

So,why is it a rebuild? Well, for starters I am far from where I want to be in life right now. With a low point at my job and a wrench thrown into a lot of plans I had for the upcoming year,regrouping seems like the next step as far as that goes. Also,I’m not satisfied with my health. I’m overweight and out of shape and it’s shown. In the time I’ve been at my current job,I’ve gained about 40 pounds and I think it’s time that I took better care of myself.

I also want to finally meet someone. I’ve long wanted to be in a relationship and would love to know what it’s like to have someone who loves you and someone I can love right back. It seems like finding that person is so easy for everyone else, well everyone except for me. It’s nothing I want anyone to feel sorry for me for, I just wish I knew where to look.

All in all,I’m hoping for the best in 2016 because this past year was so up and down and so rocky as most odd years are and have been for me. But have no fear,it’s an even year! Go Giants!