Tag: Never Defeated

It’s been a crazy few days. I’ve argued with my wife again — about the same things we’ve argued about before. Sometimes it feels like peace comes with a price tag I can’t afford. I’ve learned that love and patience don’t always walk hand in hand — sometimes they wrestle, and sometimes one wins.

But right when my world starts spinning, God shows up with a small reminder that He’s still in control.

This week, Servicon Systems emailed me my schedule for the next three weeks. Just like that, something solid, something real landed in my hands — proof that God never forgot about me, even when I was questioning everything. That schedule felt like a lifeline.

So while I’ve been cleaning, cooking, writing, and trying to keep this house and heart in order, I’ve also been writing my story.
Not a polished one. A true one. My autobiography — a record of every scar, lesson, and prayer that brought me this far.

And when I spoke with my siblings this week — both of them dropped words that cut deep in the best way. They reminded me that marriage isn’t about winning, it’s about understanding. They reminded me that my wife’s pain is different from mine, but it’s still pain.
They reminded me to stop letting my past trauma do the talking.

Sometimes, God speaks through people who’ve known your darkest years and still call you brother.

So yeah, it’s been crazy. But this time, I’m walking through the storm with a quiet heart.
Because even when I stumble, I know the climb never stops — it just changes elevation.

There are days when I feel like I’m carrying the weight of the world on my back — and still, the world keeps adding more. The passing of my mother cracked something inside me that I don’t think will ever be whole again. I’m preparing for her services, trying to hold myself together, trying to be strong for everyone else while inside I feel like I’m breaking apart.

I accepted a per diem job that’s far out of the way — not because it’s ideal, but because I need it. I’m still waiting to hear back from other interviews, stuck in that cruel limbo where hope and anxiety live side by side.

And in the middle of it all, I’m still expected to be everything. A father. A husband. A friend. A brother. A companion. A handyman. A cook. A caretaker. “Mr. Mom.” There’s no off switch. No pause button. The world doesn’t stop spinning just because your heart is broken.

I spend most nights on my knees — praying I don’t lose my mind while trying so desperately to change it. Praying for strength. For peace. For the courage to keep climbing even when the mountain feels endless. Because deep down, I know this climb isn’t just about me. It’s about the people who depend on me. It’s about the promise I made to myself to become more than my circumstances.

I won’t pretend I have it all figured out. I don’t. I’m tired. I’m grieving. I’m unsure. But I also know this: I’ve been in the dark before, and I’ve always found my way out. This time will be no different.

So if you’re reading this and you feel like life is piling more on your shoulders than you can possibly carry — I see you. I understand you. And I want you to know: being on your knees doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re still in the fight. And as long as you’re still fighting, you’re still climbing.

Closing Reflection: My Prayer on the Climb

Tonight, as I sit here with everything weighing on my shoulders — grief, responsibility, uncertainty — I remind myself of one simple truth: God hasn’t brought me this far to leave me here.

I whisper a prayer, not just for strength, but for peace. Peace to accept what I can’t control. Peace to keep moving forward even when I don’t have all the answers. And peace to trust that even this season — this storm — has a purpose.

I ask God to guide my steps when I can’t see the path. To hold my heart together when it feels like it’s falling apart. To remind me that even if I stumble, I am not broken. Even if I cry, I am not weak. Even if I pause, I am not done.

This climb isn’t easy. It never was meant to be. But I know with every prayer I whisper, every tear I shed, and every step I take — I’m getting closer to becoming who I was meant to be.

And so, I rise again tomorrow. Maybe with tired legs, maybe with a heavy heart. But I rise. Because this is my story. This is The Climb.

✨ Dedication

For my mother — the strength that shaped me, the faith that steadied me, and the love that still carries me higher. Every step I take on this climb is because of you.

Yesterday was one of those days that tested me.
It started with high hopes and a plan, but like life often does, things didn’t go as expected.

The Missed Opportunity

My morning began with the goal of applying at a temp agency.
I was focused and ready, but somehow, I ended up walking right past the place.
The address got mixed up, and by the time I realized it, the opportunity was gone.

It wasn’t about laziness or not wanting it. It was simply confusion and frustration.
Sometimes, even when you’re doing everything right, life throws you a curveball.

The Interview at 2:00 PM

Later in the day, I had an interview at a property management company.
I went in hopeful, ready to prove myself.

But here’s the thing they needed someone with a car.
I don’t have one because I rely on public transportation to save money and energy, especially right now when every dollar matters.
That wasn’t clear to them going in, and it wasn’t clear to me that it would be a dealbreaker.
So once again, another door closed.

A Call Back From Memorial in Gardena

In the middle of all this, my phone rang.
It was Memorial in Gardena, offering me a per diem job starting on the 6th.

I’m contemplating taking it, even though it’s not exactly what I wanted, because right now, I don’t have anything else solid on the table.
Sometimes you have to take what’s in front of you, even if it’s temporary, just to keep moving forward.

I still haven’t heard back from the director or assistant director about another position I’ve been hoping for, which leaves me stuck in limbo  waiting, praying, and trying to figure out the next right move.

Today’s Physical

Today, I’m heading out to take my physical.
It’s another step, another box checked off, and hopefully another door opening.

Every single day right now feels like a fight a fight against uncertainty, against fear, and against the urge to give up.
But this is why The Climb exists: to document every moment, even the ones that don’t look like victories.

Final Thoughts

Yesterday was messy.
But messy doesn’t mean meaningless.

Each missed opportunity, each closed door, and each moment of doubt is still part of this journey.
I believe these struggles are leading me somewhere greater even if I can’t see it yet.

For now, I’ll keep taking steps forward, one at a time.
Because no matter how many setbacks come my way, The Climb continues.