Someone posted a question asking how long everyone had been on tumblr. Just to make sure I checked my archives. Yes, January 2011 was when I started this blog.

Then I wondered how that could be correct. Chris and I have been together for a little over two years now. He’s been here for half the life of my blog?

Thinking back to 2011, that was a year I moved because my roommate made me feel unsafe when he wouldn’t take no for an answer. That was the year I got laid off from my job. That was the year my dad got diagnosed with cancer. That was the year I first met my niece.

That period of my life and the time that followed up until mid 2013 when Chris and I got together, felt so long. It was lonely, and hard, and painful. I was struggling with so much. I think back to that time and I just feel a deep sadness. It was really difficult.

I guess that’s why I had a hard time believing that it was such a short period of time. It felt like a lifetime. And the past two plus years have just flown by. It’s not as though there haven’t been challenges, but I have not felt like I was slogging through waist-high mud like I did back then. Then, everything was difficult and nothing seemed to work out. These days I have so much hope on the horizon. I’m excited about my future. And of course there is Chris. Who has changed my life for the better in more ways than I could possibly count or express.

I guess time really does fly when… Well when you’re not fighting for air. Fighting to survive. Dealing with heavy shit all by yourself.

I know that period of my life made me stronger. But I cannot tell you how glad I am that it is over. Wouldn’t give nothin’ for my struggle now.