It's making space. You're clearing out the dead wood to make room for something real to grow.

You do the work. You face the demons. You build the stability. You learn to be a rock for your son and for yourself.

And then you look around… and the house is quiet.

It’s led me to wonder if maybe this exhaustion is a shield. Maybe if I keep running, if I keep myself busy 24/7, there won't be a single quiet moment left for my brain to even think about that drink..

This is why I take serious issue with Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's recent comments… That kind of rhetoric isn’t just misinformed—it’s harmful. It spreads fear, not understanding.