Update on March 23, 2025:

Originally, I said I would give up social media for five years. I swear to you, I was very hopeful and dedicated to staying offline for those five years. But the truth is—I never gave it up to begin with. I signed out of Facebook and deactivated my personal Instagram, but I continued using TikTok and my food Instagram page. I also kept my Facebook Messenger app for people who still wanted to contact me but didn’t have my personal phone number. Slowly but surely, social media began creeping back into my life and schedule.

But that hasn’t stopped me from chasing and fulfilling my goals. In fact, I’ve been doing very well—closing some chapters and opening new ones in different areas of my life. I’ve updated the categories below based on my progress and how I plan to move forward.

Origianlly named “5-Year Blank Slate” is now:

My Blank Slate:

Growing up, I was always told to have a five-year plan. It was something people asked about in interviews and throughout college. When I started this website in November 2024, I absolutely had a five-year plan. It revolved around four key categories: Health, Faith, Finances, and Settling. I had a detailed, meticulous plan for each of them, convinced that I would follow it exactly.

But in these past four months, I’ve learned a lot about these four areas—and I’ve changed some things.

Health:

A little background about my health: I have IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and am intolerant to gluten, dairy, and egg whites. I’ve followed these dietary restrictions for about 7–8 years.

I recently weighed myself and am at 265 lbs—a little overweight, but my doctor says I’m very healthy for my height and weight, and that I eat well. My goal is still to reach 230 lbs or less, but overall, I’m very happy with my weight.

I was working out for a while and then stopped, but I plan to get back into it soon. There was a time when I wanted to be super fit and lean—but not for myself. I wanted to look better in society’s eyes. I don’t care about that anymore. After growing in my faith, I’ve realized that one day, the right woman will love me as I am. Life isn’t about how many dates you can go on or how many people do a double take when they see you. It’s about what you want for yourself.

My doctor says I’m healthy. I feel healthy. I love cooking and eating the foods that nourish me. And I trust that the Lord will bless me with a woman who either doesn’t care what I look like or thinks I’m a smoke show.

Moving forward: I’ll start incorporating cardio again, continue eating healthy, stay away from my irritants, and trust that God built me this way for a reason.

Faith:

This is the fun one!

A little background on my faith:

I’m Catholic. As a child, I was raised in the Catholic Church and served as an altar boy. But after high school and throughout college, I felt disconnected from my faith. I never attended Mass, and I didn’t have a relationship with the Lord. You’d think that if you don’t have a relationship with God, you wouldn’t receive His blessings—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. He stayed in my life. He provided career opportunities for me and allowed me to safely move to Florida, where I now live and work.

Eventually, I started learning more about my faith. My best friend and I had conversations about Christianity, and that re-sparked my love for the Lord. I began attending Mass again.

In February–March 2025, I joined the Knights of Columbus and a Young Adult Catholic group. A deacon from my church gifted me a Bible, and I started reading from the beginning. At the time of writing this, I’m in the Book of Chronicles—which, if you’ve read the Bible, you know means I still have a long way to go.

During Lent 2025, I not only learned more about what Lent is and why we celebrate it, but I also attended church every day. The feeling is outstanding and so rejuvenating.

Thank You, Lord, for leading me back to You!

Finances:

Originally, I provided a lot of details about my finances, but I’ve removed most of them.

The main goal remains the same: eliminate my debt and buy/build a home.

Over the past four months, I wrote a few articles about wanting to buy land and build a barndominium, but that dream has changed. After hours of research on what I can afford as a single Assistive Technology Specialist in public education, I’ve adjusted my expectations. I still plan to aggressively pay off my debt and hope to be debt-free within the next 5–6 years. I still want my own home, but whether I build or buy it is undecided.

Regarding my career, I’m currently studying for the ATP (Assistive Technology Professional) certification. I’ve learned that most companies in Florida won’t hire in the Assistive Technology field without it. There are higher-paying jobs closer to Orlando that I qualify for, but they require the certification.

The plan: Get the certification, apply for better-paying jobs, and eventually move to Orlando or somewhere in Orange County. A higher salary will help me reach my financial goals faster.

Relationship & Home:

This category used to be called “Settling,” because my original plan was to settle in life. That goal has changed—partly due to my faith, and partly due to new information and an urge to travel.

My goal is to find a holy woman who is willing to walk this path with me and never look back.

When it comes to housing, I used to want a huge piece of land with distant neighbors. But after meeting new people and making friends inside and outside of church, I miss the sense of community. I still don’t want to be too close to my neighbors, but I now value having a neighborhood feel. This shift expands my options and lowers costs.

I also don’t want a barndominium anymore. I still love the interior designs, but after more research, I realized many of the homes I admired were actually farmhouses.

What about relationships? I am ready for one. I won’t rush into it, but I trust that God will align my path with my future wife’s.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

That means both people need to be ready for this journey. Maybe I’m ready, but my future wife isn’t—yet. And that’s okay. Or maybe we are already on our ways to each other.

Moving forward: I’ll keep saving for a home and stay open to possibilities. My wife could be just steps away—whether by distance or conversation. I want to be prepared to pursue her wholeheartedly when the Lord reveals the right moment.

Welp! This is My Blank Slate.

I hope you enjoy the random blogs I write along the way—some fun, some informational, and some well maybe too honest. I always try to mention when my writing is based on research vs. opinion.

Thank you for being part of my story. And thank You, Lord, for creating me and bringing me back to You!

God bless you all!