From the depths of despair, you can still find happiness. Join me, my husband Juan, and our dog Ellie as we build our own.
From the depths of despair, you can still find happiness. Join me, my husband Juan, and our dog Ellie as we build our own.
From the depths of despair, you can still find happiness. Join me, my husband Juan, and our dog Ellie as we build our own.
From the depths of despair, you can still find happiness. Join me, my husband Juan, and our dog Ellie as we build our own.
I’m someone who chases meaning in places most people overlook — quiet rivers, forgotten trails, and uncomfortable truths. History humbles me. Nature grounds me. And the people I walk with — my dog, my husband — remind me every day what love looks like when it’s real. My past is complicated, and I don’t hide from it. The mistakes I made were devastating, but they cracked me open. They became the very reason I learned to live honestly, love deeply, and write like hell.
This blog was born out of wreckage. But what you’ll find here isn’t just survival — it’s what happens when you build a life from the ashes with your whole heart. I have compassion for anyone who stumbles. And I carry a quiet respect for those still waiting to fall.
I’ve always loved the entrepreneurial process — the messy, creative, make-something-out-of-nothing kind of work. Right now, I’m involved in several projects that feel different from anything I’ve done before. They mark a departure, a shift, a quiet transformation. Details will come in time. When I’m not building something new, I’m usually mapping out our next wilderness trek. I find peace in the deep backcountry — far from cell service, closer to whatever’s real. For years, I skydived regularly. I miss it, and I’ll be back in the sky one day.
I also spend time volunteering at a local food pantry, and I’ve worked as a professional chef for organizations feeding some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Giving back is essential to me — not as penance, but as purpose. Since 2016, I’ve shared my life with my husband, Juan. He’s never left my side. I’m endlessly grateful for his love, his steadiness, and his willingness to chase wild adventures with me.
I write for anyone who’s ever been knocked flat and still found the strength to stand up. My readers come from all walks of life, but they share one thing in common: they’ve been through something — and they refused to let it define them. If you've faced loss, shame, consequence, or deep regret and still chose to keep going, you’ll feel at home here.
I explore what it means to build a meaningful life not in spite of hardship, but through it. For me, that means finding joy in small, sacred adventures — hiking remote trails, walking through redwood silence, watching the light change across the ocean. Rebuilding after destruction isn’t easy. But it’s possible.
I lost everything — and I mean everything. What I have now wasn’t handed to me. I fought for it. I worked for it. I shaped it with honesty, grit, and a deep belief that life can still be beautiful, even after ruin. If you're doing that kind of work too, you’re not alone.
Welcome life's challenges and difficulties as harbingers of bliss.
Cultivate awareness for the value in every experience, even the tough ones.
Explore everyday strategies and read interesting stories on how I practice what I preach.
WARNING: This blog discusses sex, suicide, addiction, mental illness, drugs, abuse, crime, medical procedures and trauma of all kinds. If that isn’t for you, please move on. There aren't many subjects I will shy away from. This content is gritty, raw, unfiltered and often controversial. I'm here to poke at our shared discomfort. Some stories are altered for creative purposes, but the message is hopefully still relatable, helpful and inspiring. Privacy laws and content legality always respected.
Dear Reader,
Do you have a story of resilience that you want to share? Has this blog impacted you in a positive way? Want to reconnect with me after years gone by? Have my writings triggered a negative reaction? Are you feeling down and need a pep talk?
I'd love to hear from you and I'm always available…
Sincerely,
Brett Niebergall
P.S. Any hateful correspondence or harassing content will be ignored. I am not afraid of abusers nor will I engage with them.
The information provided on this blog is for entertainment and general informational purposes only. All content represents my personal views and experiences and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual. While I strive for accuracy, the information may not always be up-to-date or complete, and I make no warranties or guarantees about its accuracy.
Any reliance you place on the information is strictly at your own risk. I am not liable for any losses, or damages arising from the use of this blog. The opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect the views of any organizations I am affiliated with.
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All stories and experiences shared on this blog are strictly coincidental and not intended to depict any specific individual unless explicitly stated. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Assuming any of my writings are about you is strictly up to you, the reader. I make no claims in this regard.
Privacy is respected, and identities are always changed to protect the individuals mentioned. If you have any concerns about content related to you, please contact me directly.
NOTE: This blog updates once or twice a week. Sometimes more. I generally do not participate in social media and consider this platform my primary online presence. I'm not here for clicks, likes, affirmations, compliments, comments, or anything else other than helping those that struggle with incredible hardships. My goal is to show that redemption is possible for anybody out there. Even me.
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