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.
Brett Niebergall's Blog:
Welcome to the Rabbit Hole…
I find meaning in overlooked places: quiet rivers, forgotten trails, and uncomfortable truths. History humbles me. Nature grounds me. And my husband and our dog remind me what love and belonging feel like.
My past is complicated, and I don’t hide from it. I’ve made mistakes with devastating consequences. Understanding those choices, accepting responsibility, and living with what followed have changed how I see the world, how I love, and how I write.
This blog is where I examine that experience honestly, including the contradictions and questions I haven’t resolved. I bring compassion for those who’ve stumbled and respect for how much of another person’s life we can never fully know.
What motivates me?
I’ve always loved the creativity and challenge of building something from nothing. These days, I’m exploring new entrepreneurial projects and enjoying the possibilities ahead.
When I’m not working, I’m usually planning our next adventure. I feel most at home in the wilderness, hiking through redwoods, exploring remote landscapes, or escaping beyond cell service. I spent years skydiving, and I hope to return to the sky someday.
Giving back matters to me. I volunteer with The Better Because Collective and previously worked as a professional chef feeding vulnerable members of our community. I see service not as penance, but as an expression of my values.
And through it all, there’s Juan. Since 2016, we’ve built a marriage filled with love, laughter, challenges, and adventure. I’m grateful for his steadiness, companionship, and willingness to explore life alongside me.
Who is this for?
I write for people finding their way through hardship, regret, loss, or an unexpected turn in life. You don’t need to share my history to recognize the questions here: How do we live with what cannot be changed? What deserves our attention now? How do we make room for joy? I don’t have every answer, but I’ve learned that happiness doesn’t always wait for our difficulties to disappear. Sometimes it grows alongside them. If you’re finding your own way forward, there’s a place for you here.