New Beginnings

Last modified on May 24th, 2016

I realized recently that it’s been almost a full year since I wrote anything on this website. I have tried at various times over the last year to sit down and write, but the words just wouldn’t come. But tonight I thought it was probably best to blow the layer of dust off and finally write an update.

And the main update is this: last year my heart broke.

As many people know I was in a pretty serious relationship; it unfortunately ended almost a year ago today. As an engineer, I’m trained to solve problems, often difficult ones. But despite my best efforts, I was unable to fix our relationship when things started to fall apart. I watched, mostly helplessly, as we grew further apart, and whatever magic there had once been slowly dissipated away. When it ended, it was less of a breakup and more the sad admission that it was over.

I won’t lie: it hurt, and I felt pretty lost when it ended. I spent several months being fairly depressed and trying to figure out how to go from a team to a solo player again. One day I forced myself to sit down and look back honestly at everything, hoping that I could start the process of moving forward again. And while nobody was to blame, there were certain things I said and did over the course of the relationship that made me sad when I looked back. I can’t change the past (although I often wish I could), but that day I acknowledged my own failures with the hope that going forward I wouldn’t make the same mistakes again.

While it’s taken me the better part of a year, I’m finally at the place again where I am feeling like my old self. I have started taking singing lessons with the hope of playing a coffee shop sometime this year, and have been spending a lot of time at the gym with the goal of someday seeing if I actually have any abs. I am also getting on a plane again soon and am looking forward to a few new adventures over the next year.

And while this last year was a bit turbulent for me, I’m thankful that I’ve finally put the past behind me and somehow managed to find myself again. Expect future posts in a more timely manner going forward.

In short, I’m back.

5 responses to “New Beginnings”

  1. Amanda says:

    Welcome back seems appropriate. Yet I love all versions of you brother. The journey brought you to us once again and I and the kids have enjoyed our family dinners and coffees.
    We look forward to watching your new adventures!

  2. Erica says:

    Welcome back, Duane.

    Grief is a terrible process, and really that is what one goes through when they go through a break up with someone that they’ve loved.

    Glad you are feeling back to your old self again, and ready for a new adventure.

  3. Keira says:

    I’m seriously glad to see you writing again. There’s a certain catharsis attached to the act and you’ve got a lot of fans and supporters and enjoy hearing your thoughts. Onwards, upwards, and skywards. I look forward to your new adventures. 🙂

  4. […] a year’s hiatus, Duane Storey has decided to get back into blogging again. he had his reasons for taking a break from blogging, like ending a very serious relationship, […]

  5. welcome back kotter! onwards 🙂 !

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