@wobydesign: About 5 years ago, life felt pretty amazing. I was traveling overseas, making videos out of recycled skateboards, and even bought a Sprinter van to convert into a camper. I really thought I was building something that would last. Then somewhere around 2022, everything changed. Probably because Trump got elected and turned everything into 💩 I got depressed. I tried working harder, but eventually I burned out and stopped enjoying woodworking altogether. And then my wife got pregnant, we had the most amazing daughter, and I kept telling myself things would turn around. Instead, my business slowly fell apart. Looking back, selling luxury home goods during a rough economy probably wasn’t the best timing, but at the time I just blamed myself. So, last year, I sold most of my tools, closed my shop, got a full-time sales job for a year. I worked for a terrible family owned business doing the most mind numbing tasks just to provide and survive. And last Friday I got laid off. So yeah… things aren’t exactly going according to plan. But I’ve also realized something. 5 years ago, I wasn’t on talking terms with my mom and now I have a great relationship with my mom. She has been a huge help raising my daughter and I couldn’t be happier to see my daughter have a great relationships with my mom. I got to spend so much time with my daughter’s first few years as basically a stay-at-home dad. I’m sure there’s a research out there somewhere that says fathers presence is more valuable to child’s development then money. And shortly after I got a full time job, my wife was laid off. And the job I hated provided for our family. In a way, it worked out. My wife and I started couples therapy, I found out I have ADHD, and for the first time a lot of my struggles actually make sense. And we’re learning how to communicate with each other better. And somehow… this van I started years ago is almost finished. Maybe getting laid off is just the push I needed to finally finish it and hit the road for a bit. Life isn’t where I thought it’d be, but I still get to choose how I move forward. I can do it sad, or I can do it happy or… I can monetize it. Either way, daddy’s back

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Friday 07 August 2026 14:33:59 GMT