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I’m still smoking. It’s not that I don’t want to quit — believe me, I do. But addiction isn’t a fight against an outside enemy. It’s a war within your own walls, a battle between the part of you that wants to heal and the part of you that clings to the comfort of old habits. And it’s a hard fight. Harder than I ever wanted to admit. Especially in this environment, where stress, boredom, and bad examples float in the air thicker than the smoke itself. Every cigarette feels like a skirmish lost, but every honest attempt to resist...

I’m having a hard time quitting smoking. That’s the truth. I’ve been bumming cigarettes from the other guys in the house and just spent my last $10 feeding the addiction I keep swearing I’ll beat. But still, I want to say thank you — thank you to those who didn’t buy me a pack. That’s not enabling. That’s support. It’s not easy to say no to someone you care about, but it’s the right thing to do. And here’s what I’ve learned: there’s a difference between enabling and empowering. When I hear back from Disney — and I believe I...

I’m having a hard time quitting smoking. I’ll be honest about it. I’ve been bothering the other guys in the house for cigarettes, and I just spent my last $10 on another pack. But this time, I want to say thank you to the people who didn’t give in — who didn’t buy me a pack, even when I begged. That’s not enabling — that’s love with boundaries. And it’s appropriate. But let’s make an important distinction. When I hear back from Disney, I’ll need to put together a physical portfolio. I can’t afford it right now, but I might...

Today, I went to court. Not for anything shocking—just a check-in. They’ve scheduled me to return in July. It’s part of an ongoing process, not punishment, but observation. They want to see my progress. And progress, I am making. I’m hoping—deeply hoping—that none of this will stand in the way of getting a job with Disney. That’s the dream. That’s the goal. Another housemate told me he went through mental health diversion and still managed to hold down a job. That gave me a glimmer of confidence. If he could, why not me? The key is to work closely with...

  If I can pull this off—if I can land an artistic job with Disney and find my footing in Los Angeles—then everything changes. I won’t need help anymore. Not from anyone. No more leaning, no more scraping by, no more waiting for someone to save me. I’ll be self-sufficient. Independent. A working artist in the city of dreams. And the wild thing is… it’s a shame I didn’t try this sooner. All these years, all this talent, all this hustle—I’ve been surviving, but not truly aiming for the stars. Now I am. And it feels like waking up in...