Brunansky's Blog

There are moments that are life changing. You can feel the atmosphere alter. The energy is suddenly different. Your perspective adjusts. How you react to things is forever new. It’s been a year since that major adjustment in my life.

Last year at this time, I was in Europe. The trip almost ten years in the making finally came to fruition. There was a moment so profound that I took a literal photo of the view. Here, staring at the waters of the canal, feeling the cool, humid breeze brush past my skin, my life changed.

The moment felt profound. It was probably due to this trip taking almost ten years to arrive. The accomplishment felt like I closed a chapter of my life, and I walked right into the new chapter. To use a videogame comparison, it felt like I just leveled up.

My time spent backpacking through Europe was magical. My flight touched down in Amsterdam. From the airport, I took the train to the city. Then, I began an incredible journey that explored Amsterdam, Berlin, and Warsaw. I crossed through three countries. I ate delicious food. I drank local beers. I enjoyed coffee shops, historical sites, museums, and cigar lounges. I spent time meeting locals, exploring city streets, back alleys, and landmarks. I even golfed. It was the longest solo trip I have taken. It was the furthest solo trip, as well.

You learn a lot about yourself when you travel alone. There’s a resillience and strength that I discovered about myself. In my younger years, I always had a safety net in place. This trip there was no net. I didn’t tell anyone back home I was leaving. If anything happened, no one could help. I was a man alone.

After the trip, there was a bit of turbulence. However, the new attitude I developed overseas didn’t allow much energy to be spent on negativity. I found my footing once I was back in town. Then, the rest of the year was spent helping people, weight training, and, eventually, a romantic relationship.

First, let’s take a look at when I realized this trip might actually be possible…

It was approximately October of 2023 that I realized the European holiday might actually be possible. I started planning. I started ordering and purchasing items for the trip. I started booking flights, hotels, train tickets, and more. By the time May arrived, everything major was paid for, and all I needed to do was get to the airport.

The time in Europe opened my eyes. I have never been so far from everyone and everything. It was also never possible that I traveled without telling someone my itenary. Every single detail about this trip was unique.

You can read all about it here. 

I enjoyed my time in Amsterdam. I enjoyed my time in Berlin. I enjoyed my time in Warsaw. In truth, I spent the majority of my time in Warsaw. I found my time there illuminating.

Once I was back, life carried on in a typical manner. The difference was my perspective and attitude. I suddenly felt even more confident. I suddenly had no problem telling people exactly how I felt without nuance. If something bothered me or was a problem, I would simply state, “This is a problem.” If something bothered me, I’d simply state, “I’m not a fan of that.” There was little subtlety.

I continued my search for short-term money. While talking with different people, companies, businesses, and agencies, I found a business that needed immediate help. I accepted and began to help them and learn how their business functions.

The next few months had me meeting many people. Three of these people made an immediate impact. And, based on what they told me specifically, we developed a relationship that was more than simply the temporary boss/employee relationship.

During this time, I began developing and cultivating a relationship with a woman at the gym. She has been regular for some time. However, we didn’t really break into a relationship until this year.

She doesn’t speak English well. My Spanish and Italian are awful. I haven’t used Italian since college. This is over twenty years ago. I should mention that she speaks Spanish and Italian. We started communicating through looks, gestures, and energy. Then, we incorporated Google Translate into our daily routines. After a few months of getting to know one another through Google Translate, we started dating.

After enjoying a date or two, we decided that we were compatible. We started our romantic relationship. Now, at the time of this writing, we are passionately involved and discussing future plans together. She is a remarkable woman with whom I am grateful to have met. We also both agree that we are happy we took the time to know each other better. We are happy to be open, honest, and vulnerable with one another.

Now, in my forties, I tell people all the time. There is an energy force in life. Once you lock into it, things flow. We connected almost immediately without even speaking the same languages. Fortunately for her, I was terrible at Spanish and Italian but knew enough to break the initital communication barrier. She is still learning English. Fortunately, for us both, we had Google Translate.

At the time of this writing, I am currently still waiting on money, now, almost eight years in the making. For short-term money, it’s been an interesting year. Once back from Europe, the hunt began to see who needed help and what they were willing to pay to receive my assistance.

I agreed to help the current job through the holidays of 2024. They had lost a few people in leadership and regular staffing. They gave me a figure, and I accepted. How crazy could things get in about five months’ time? It’s now May of 2025. I’m still helping them.

The company is in the process of a massive remodel. The learning process has been steep. Not only am I learning how this business functions, but I’m learning how to deal with staff that have different disabilities, personalities, experience, and expertise. I’m also learning how to deal with contractors, construction workers, demolitions specialists, plumbers, electricians, architects, engineers, and various levels of corporate leadership. I’m managing people who run a floral shop, a sushi restaurant, multiple restaurants and a bakery, plus everything else that takes place from day to day. It’s been a whirlwind of learning in less than one years time. It’s absolutely wild.

It has been a quick year. And, since my return from Europe, my perspective has adjusted dramatically. The adjustment fundamentally changed my tolerance for certain things and how I relate to people. When people approach me with issues, and I’m not getting paid to solve them, I find myself telling them, “Eh, you’ll figure it out.” I no longer dive into the issues of others. Unless that is, it somehow helps me get my money to get back to Europe. I’ve become incredibly focused on singular issues far more than ever before in my life.

I have noticed I’m perfectly fine losing people, too. My girlfriend and I have talked about this a few times. In my youth, I was surrounded by people all the time. There was always something to do with one or more people. Losing people meant losing progress. Losing progress meant starting over, and that takes time.

Now, after my health diagnosis a few years ago, my priorities have changed. Losing people is acceptable as time becomes even more valuable. Either people are working with me and my attorney to get this money situation resolved, or they aren’t. I could not care less. I just want my money, to be in Europe, on my new boat, sailing with my girlfriend and new and familiar folks. 

My enthusiasm for getting to Europe has increased beyond what has been. Walking the cobblestone streets, admiring the historical architecture, and meeting many incredible people boosted my desire to return. There was something magical about my time there. Each city, each country was completely different. Somehow, they still felt connected. It is unquestionably different than the United States.

The woman I met and am in a committed relationship with has dramatically improved my life. It’s been an enriching and lovely time with her. She and I spend much time together, almost daily. She and I continue to weight-train together. We have a current program we enjoy and have been seeing results from. We go on dates. We enjoy stay-cations around town. Her family has invited me over a few times and cooked traditional Venezuelan and Italian dishes for me. Her parents are from Italy and Venezuala. This makes her, Carribean, Italian, Venezuelan.

I didn’t realize this until I started to learn more about her history and culture. Venezuela is considered part of the Carribean. To my knowledge, which is limited for South America, I thought the Carribean was an archipelago. I was wrong. The Carribean also has a land nation in Venezuala. This makes her background even more diverse.

As the year progresses, I continue to wait on my attorney and long-term money, now eight years in the making. I continue to help people, businesses, companies, and agencies for money and favors. I continue to explore options for higher paying short-term monies while I continue to wait. And, my girlfriend and I continue to develop our relationship as we plan a future together. Plus, the weight training continues developing my body, spirit, and mind.

Speaking of the weight training, despite my health problems, that were diagnosed back in December of 2020, I completed a massive physical challenge this year.

A couple of regulars from the gym invited me to join them in completing a 10k obstacle course called “The Spartan.” It was a grueling experience. The four of us did begin and finish the race together, which was good.

I’ve run a 10k. However, an obstacle course that is ten kilometers  (or 6 miles for us Americans) was a new challenge. I was exhausted from the training leading up to the event. I felt incredible pride and accomplishment after jumping over some fire and running across the finish line.

A lot can happen in a years time. I, despite some health problems, completed a massive physical challenge. I am working in an industry that is brand new to me, with challenges even more unique. I am involved with a woman who doesn’t even speak the same language as me. Yet, we are planning a future together as two very passionate people who are very much loving how our romance develops.

Rey the Dog is plugging along. We have her allergies under control finally. She no longer has regular Vet visits for her allergies and the reaction on her skin. Unfortunately, she did injure her eye.

She has never had the ability to stop once she is running. This constant smacking of her head into windows, doors, and my head while I’m sleeping, has caused damage to her eye. She is currently due for surgery. Other than that, she is doing well since my return from Europe.

In all, the past year has dramatically changed my life. The feeling of “leveling up” in Amsterdam proved to be appropriate. Upon my return, so much changed, but one thing is still the same… I’m still waiting for my money to return to Europe, enjoy retirement, and sail about with my girlfriend and plenty of folks who I have met along the way.

Plus, I’m looking forward to even more doctor and specialist visits to see what can be done about this issue I’m currently living with. It would be nice to have a better handle on it with more information. Other than that, there are still better days ahead once I get my money. I look forward to those days. May you have something to look forward to in your life, as well.