For the first time since launching With Gusto 18 months ago, I haven’t written a single sentence in almost a month.
Trust me when I tell you, that doesn’t sit well with me.
First and foremost… because I have 70+ paid subscribers.
People who expect, look forward to, and appreciate what I do enough to make financial contributions to me and my work.
The thought of not meeting those expectations is something I don’t take lightly.
But — and the following is not meant to be an excuse — the reality, and the truth behind why you haven’t heard from me, is this:
What began as an unfortunate flood inside a building I manage here in Dallas has slowly supersized into a full-blown, slab-to-ceiling, renovation project.
Though I’d never in my life been part of any type of rebuild or renovation, I’ve heard plenty of stories over the years about just how challenging they can be. With a handful of bruises, mistakes, and hurdles to show for it, I can now attest to that firsthand.
While I’ve indeed learned a lot over these past two months, I’ve also taken it square on the chin more times than I’d like to admit.
From a relationship-ending dispute with a contractor, to the setback of all setbacks last week… just as I thought things were finally turning a corner.
More on that later.
Fortunately, I’ve got a team of three incredible women in my life — my mom, my sister, and Ashlie — all of whom have been amazingly supportive and willing to help out in their own unique ways.
As the wise saying goes, it takes a village (of women!).
I say all of that to say this…
Since the first week in June, I’ve literally been up at the office from dawn ‘til dusk, 7 days a week.
Covered in a summer’s blend of sweat, sawdust, and paint, I come home every evening bone tired… to eat, shower, then sleep. Only to wake up at the ass-crack of dawn the following morning and do it all over again.
(I will say, as someone who’s struggled for years with getting a good night’s rest… I’ve been clocking some of the best sleep of my life.)
Is there at least a light at the end of the tunnel?
Yes.
But there is also still plenty of work that needs to be done.
And please know, I’m not sharing this looking for any sympathy points — I’m well aware that there are millions of people who work this hard every single day, for years on end.
I share this because I want those of you who’ve reached out, or been wondering where I’ve been, to understand exactly why I haven’t been writing.
Making that clear is important to me.
Alas, I took half the day off today in order to take care of a few things that’ve been piling up — and eliminating this looming feeling that I needed to share an update with my readers was near the top of that list.
So to all my subscribers, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your patience, understanding, and support. It means more to me than you know — especially during times like these.
Once Project 2026 is complete, you better believe I’ll be back to sharing the love and the feel-good stories you’ve grown accustomed to receiving.
Lord knows I’ve missed sharing them with you.
Now, enough about me… let’s talk about you.
✨ A warm welcome to the 33 new subscribers who’ve joined this community since my last newsletter.
Just a heads-up to the newbies, every other Wednesday I send out a ‘Notes & A Nugget’ email — a collection of the images and field notes from that fortnight… also included is a never-before-shared Nugget for good measure.
While your engagement isn’t expected here, it sure as hell is appreciated.
Every like, comment, or share lets me know that the images and stories I collect are indeed being seen, felt, and landing for others.
That’s all for now, my friends.
As always, thank you for being here — and please feel free to reach out or DM me with any travel (or DIY renovation) questions. 😆
With Gratitude & Gusto,
Adrian
Once In A Lifetime
The Non-Enemies At Exxon
Cambodian Coffee Screams
Hat tip, Tony
Pedicure On The Pavement
A Colossal Compliment
Beauty & Brutality On The Mekong
If you haven’t joined our community chat, you likely did not see the video I shared about what I witnessed.
Because it involves the abuse of two Cambodian children, I chose not to share it publicly.
For those of you who might want to watch it, I’ve included a link below to the With Gusto chatroom. Just be warned — the story is difficult to digest.
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