It's been about two and a half months since I've moved here. When I last wrote here, I was in a dark time. Looking back, most of my times have been "dark". Living for me. In pursuit of my life. My pleasures. My vices. My pride. But now I'm living for something other than myself. True, it was my decision to come to Japan - but God was the one to open the door. And I believe He's brought me out here for a purpose.

There's a chapter in the Bible, Hebrews 11, which I call the Hall of Faith. Here, the writer lists out people in history who have followed God into the unknown. Abraham, Joseph, Moses - and many more. And I'm on of them. Going in to the unknown.

I'm not sure what God has for me, but I press on forward through the wilderness - in faith.

So, I'm far from home. At first I was fighting these bouts of separation. From my brother. From family. from friends. But now it seems that link in my mind has been cut. I don't think about New York as much as I did before. I'm here now in Japan.

I've been focusing on the new work, and adjusting to life here. But as I'm beginning to adapt to the change in lifestyle, this focus doesn't require all that much energy. And so, I'm left with this gap - this whole inside me, needing to be filled. It's like I'm underwater - not at the surface, but not in the bottom either. I'm kind of just floating around, with nothing to grasp.

Yeah, the loneliness is begin to sink in. But I can't run back home. And I can only hide so long in work. Because at the end of the day, when your head hits the pillow, with nothing but the echo on your thoughts bouncing around in you mind - you've got nothing to do but just deal with it. Just endure it, for now...

I started doing EMS to do good. And in my past three years of doing just that, I've decided to do something different. I've left New York and moved to Osaka, Japan. I've left my brother. My family. My friends. My life. And taking a chance to be part of a new adventure. The road ahead has mountains and valleys. Deserts and rivers. Rising skylines and winding streets without names.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. So, here I am - across the sea.

"If I stay, there can be no party. I must be out there in the night, staying vigilant. Wherever a party needs to be saved - I'm there. Wherever there are masks, where there is tomfoolery and joy, I'm there. Mmmmmm. But sometimes I'm not because I'm out there in the night, staying vigilant, watching, lurking, running, jumping, hurdling, sleeping. No I can't sleep. You sleep. I'm awake. I don't sleep. I don't blink. Am I a bird? No. I'm a bat. I am Batman. Or am I? Yes. I am Batman. Happy Halloween." -Abed (Danny Pudi) from NBC's Community as Batman

I got this habit - a bad habit. Whenever something bothers me, I keep it in. I used to let it all out, and tell the world know exactly what was bothering me. But I don't do that anymore. I used spill my guts - but I don't want to be that kind of person anymore. I don't want to be one of those people who puts their burdens on others. I want to own those burdens on my own. Otherwise, I felt it made me look weak. I mean, come on - who would put their confidence in someone who kept showing others the chinks in their armor.
I need to be perfect. I can't show any flaws. I can't let others see me weak.

But honestly, I'm not very good at that. When something bothers me, it shows. It really fucking shows. And I wish it didn't.

I have some pretty good people around me. People who genuinely care, who want to help - but I'm stuck.
I feel like, if I let it all out then maybe they'd find something and make them turn away - disgusted. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But someday.
We all have our demons - our curses. But I have a hard enough time facing them by myself, what about others. What would they do?
In the end, I'm lonely. I can have the world fall in love with me, but I'd still be alone in my thoughts and principles.

So, when something is wrong, and eating away at my insides - never you worry, and never you fear. I'll take care of this on my own. I'll find a way. For my sake, as well as yours.
This is mine. I got this.

You know, I completely under estimated a good night's rest - completely. Before I used to think that running on the ambulance would clear my head. But last night, doing 14 hours straight on the street - it really didn't.
If anything, it only made some things weigh heavier in my head:
Paying off the bills. Replacing my damn cracked car windshield.
That girl. This patient. That jerk. This sunny day when I'm stuck working. That cigarette. This sense of not being good enough for the people around me.

All kinds of stuff that's somehow managed to clog up my head. This - SHIT!!
All of it gone, after a good night's rest.

Thank God for that one -
Now, what was I going to do today?

Alright, so I'm not exactly the sharpest knife in the proverbial drawer. I've done some pretty stupid things in my past. Most often than not, they're the result of acting without thinking. This is just one such thing...

For about a year now, I've been taking daily hikes. Venues change, such as the boardwalk or a local park. But as long as I get some fresh air and get the blood flowing, I'm good. Nothing like getting out there and wandering, alone with your thoughts - it's just easy. Earlier today, it was gray and cold, with a fresh coat of April showers. Most people would just stay in under the covers or spend a lazy day on the couch and watch three straight hours of Top Chef or something like that. But now your ever-loving me. So I set out for the park down the block, with hiking sneakers, slacks, running jacket, and a weighted vest for that little challenge. About a mile and a half into my routine, I noticed I had not come across another person in the park. I smiled to myself, enjoying the solitude. Savoring the time when I could let out my constant inner-monologue out-loud! It almost on cue, it began to rain. But I did not mind. On the contrary, I loved it. Not bad, eh?
And then came the thunder. "It's alright," I told myself. "I still don't see any flashes of lightning." Spoke to soon. Flashes of light lit up the sky around me, with the thunder rumbling the ground beneath my feet. I quickened my pace. And then an awareness came to me like, Oh-snap!-I-left- the-iron-on!
"Oh shit," I said to myself. "I'm drenched head to toe with rain and sweat, with 50 lbs of metal strapped to my body!" Oh shit. "I'm a walking fucking conductor."
The panic lessened as I remembered I'd be alright. If God would take me home now, I'd be fine with that. Why the hell not? No more problems. No more drama. No more struggles. Just good times ahead with God. I man'ed up and kept on going.

FLASH! BANG! BOOM!
I covered my ears and ran a bit faster.
Real brave, big boy. Real brave.

I got home safe. Un-sing'ed, but soaked. And jumped into a nice hot shower.
Heh, I'm no Einstein.