# What a Day: A Story of Ups and Downs

By [0xa820](https://paragraph.com/@laszloleonardo) · 2024-11-22

life, journal, daddy, son

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Today was... something. Not my finest, and it’s hard not to point back to last night for setting the tone. I had someone over—a brief connection, not much depth, and certainly no spark. It wasn’t fair how I said goodbye, but the vibe just wasn’t there. Lesson learned: surface-level interactions leave you feeling emptier than if you'd just been alone.

Cleaning up today brought another storm of emotions. My living situation isn’t cutting it anymore. Sharing a space comes with shared responsibilities, but when one side doesn’t pull their weight, it’s like carrying dead weight uphill. My roommate hasn’t been contributing to rent, and honestly, I’m done being taken for granted. If he doesn’t pay up by the end of the week, he’s out. It’s not about being harsh—it’s about respecting myself.

But what really got me today was thinking about my son. He’s so brilliant, so full of life and ideas, yet the system treats him as if he’s just a case file. It kills me to see people with so much power over kids’ futures act so carelessly. These judges, these so-called child care organizations—they don’t see him. They don’t listen. But this fight? It’s far from over. I’ll do whatever it takes, not just for him but to ensure that no other parent has to feel this powerless.

I had grand plans for today, but sometimes, life demands you slow down. I let the silence speak and decided to just sit with the heaviness. Some days aren’t for creating—they’re for processing.

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#### Personal Note

Today reminded me of the raw edges of life. Not everything falls into place, and not every battle feels like a victory in the moment. But that’s the thing about persistence: you keep showing up, not just for yourself but for the ones who matter most.

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*Originally published on [0xa820](https://paragraph.com/@laszloleonardo/what-a-day-a-story-of-ups-and-downs)*
