Introduction

Well hey, everyone.  Honestly, I'm surprised that I've waited until now to type my first blog.  I love to write, and what better way to do not only something I enjoy, but I also get to talk about myself!  But in all seriousness, I have recently had a lot of frustrations built up inside of me and I figured a healthy outlet like writing it out might be what the doctor ordered.

For those of you who don't know a lot about me, my name is Jonathan Rowe, and am 24 years old living in Carmel, Indiana.  I recently graduated from Ball State University this past May with a degree in Hospitality and Food Management.  Upon graduating, I landed a job working as an Assistant General Manager with Yum! Brands, specifically working with the Taco Bell company.  While I never thought fast food would be an industry I would work in, it's a great paying job right out of college, and surprisingly enough, I enjoy what I do.  It's been a great blessing and comfort knowing I have a steady paying job in a reliable industry.  I look forward to the many challenges and opportunities that come my way over the coming months.

Throughout my life, I have been blessed with an amazing family.  As someone who is openly gay, the love, respect, and support that I have received from my family has been truly remarkable.  While it hasn't always been easy and the journey has sometimes been very difficult, in the end I would have to say that it has brought my family closer than ever before.  Recently my boyfriend and I of almost 2 years decided to call it quits, none of it being my doing mind you.  We were on a random trip to the grocery store when I get informed that he's no longer in love with me.  What makes it even worse is that we live together, have a dog together (whom is a Golden Retriever named Chloe and is the most adorable thing in the world), and just seeing him every single day makes it hard to move past what we had.  We signed this lease in our apartment back in June, so there is still quite a bit of time left.  Everything with us is so complicated, and really, I have been forced to make decisions and look at alternative facets of life that I never thought I would have to do.  That is one of the main reasons why I decided to create this blog, just to be able to air out, and refresh my soul, so to speak with this online journal.  I am still leaning heavily on the support of my friends and family.  Especially now, as we are gearing towards fall, I am seeing how much I miss having someone there with me, as it starts to get cooler.  Being able to do all sorts of outdoor activities, go to festivals and doing all sorts of "fall" things with someone I truly care about creates a joy inside of me that is hard to replace.  I am trusting that God has some great things in store for me, and I can hardly wait for these plans to be revealed.

Well, I think this is a pretty good starter for an introductory blog.  My blog title 'Rowe'ing Along is a play of words with my last name, but also describes my journey of just rowing along downstream in this thing we call life.  I look forward to welcome comments from anyone and everyone who reads my blog, and hopefully will have the opportunity to make some new friends along the way.  Until next time, I leave you with my favorite scripture, which is something I recite to myself every day to help keep me going through these difficult times.  Philippians 4:13:  "I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me."

Until next time,

~Jonathan