For years, people have assumed I’ve had an amazing life because of my Trunki journey. And yes, there were highs. But I believe we learn far more from our darkest days.
This is my story of hitting rock bottom, finding the courage to take the first step, and ultimately rebuilding my life into something bigger and better than I ever imagined.
When Everything Fell Apart
Five years ago, my life was unraveling.
Trunki was struggling due to COVID-19. My 17-year relationship was over in everything but name, yet we were still living under the same roof, barely speaking. They say communication is key, but when you’re met with silence, there’s nothing to build on.
The one bright spot was time with my three young kids. But everything else? It felt completely out of my control. And the thought of not seeing them every day was unbearable.
I was paralysed, unable to take action. As someone who prides themselves on problem-solving, I was crippled by the fact that I couldn’t “fix” this. I spent years in an unhappy place, convincing myself that staying for my kids was the right thing to do. I was afraid—many of my friends had been through brutal separations, and I didn’t want to go through that. But in trying to avoid pain, I was only prolonging it.
The Moment That Changed Everything
One day, I was away with my Campfire Circles group, a men’s support network for entrepreneurs. During a visualisation exercise, we were asked to picture our future selves.
Suddenly, I saw myself at 50, just seven years away. And I was happy. I had a new partner, a comfortable home, and my kids were thriving. I could feel the peace, the joy, the lightness. And my future self said:
“It’s OK. You will be happy again.”
That moment sparked something in me. It gave me belief. It gave me permission to move forward—not with urgency or desperation, but with deliberate action.
At the same time, a close friend challenged me to stop drinking. I resisted at first—I didn’t think I had a problem. It was a small way to escape! But they pushed, and I gave it a go.
That small change gave me something I hadn’t felt in a long time: control.
But those sober evenings also stripped away distractions. The undeniable truth was staring me in the face: My relationship was over.
For years, I had “Call a family lawyer” on my to-do list. And for years, I avoided it. Because once you make that call, there’s no going back.
But the vision I’d seen was still there in my mind. My future self was happy. My friends told me I deserved to be happy. And if I wanted to
become him, I had to stop avoiding the hard conversations.
I finally made the call. And the best advice I got from my Campfire Circles? Get a separation coach.
That decision changed everything.
The Breaking Point
By the end of 2022, I was facing two major transitions: exiting the company I had built for 18 years and separating from my 17-year relationship while raising three young kids. Two mountains to climb, but at least I was moving forward.
The sale process had complications. Our factory had a small contract with the Ministry of Defence, requiring government clearance before completing the Trunki deal.
On New Year’s Eve, I was alone in a friend’s house, looking forward to a fresh start in 2023. Instead, I started violently throwing up. I assumed it was food poisoning. Then I began passing out. I dragged myself to the hospital. Three hours later, I was rushed into emergency surgery.
A blood vessel in my stomach had been leaking. I had lost nine litres of blood and was on morphine for the pain. If I had waited another day, I likely wouldn’t have survived.
I spent three days in intensive care. My ex refused to bring the kids to visit, and in that moment, any lingering doubts about my decision to move on vanished.
At the time, doctors couldn’t say what caused the bleed. Later, after reading The Body Keeps the Score, I realised the truth. The accumulated stress of everything—separation, the sale, emotional suppression—had taken a physical toll.
My word for the year had been Alive. And I had nearly lost my life.
Navigating to a New Life
A week later, I found an incredible house to rent, perched on a hill with breathtaking views over Bristol, and a garage (finally!). For the first time, I had space to breathe.
The early seeds of an idea had been forming, something around family sleep health, and it turned into Zeepy, which I co-founded with my brother.
After six months of dating, I met someone incredible. She had a spark, loved to have fun, and embraced life. We were both celebrating our new beginnings, finally able to be our true selves.
Most importantly, my kids got to see me happy, not just surviving but thriving. They now see what a loving relationship looks like, built on joy, respect, and openness.
Rebuilding in 2024
As if on cue, everything started aligning. It was time to step away from Trunki completely, just as I found an incredible house to buy and renovate. On my last day, I picked up the keys. The house, a late ‘70s renovation project, became my focus for the year, alongside building Zeepy into something real.
Now, two years after moving out, I have an amazing home, a partner I love, and a business with real potential. Most importantly, I have created a life where I am genuinely happy, having fun, and being my true self. My kids get to see that every day I am with them.
The Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Sooner
- Find Your Support Crew – You don’t have to do it alone. Friends, a coach, a mentor—having the right people around you makes all the difference.
- Small Steps Create Big Change – You don’t need a full plan. Just take the first step. Momentum builds when you move.
- Resilience is a Strength, but So is Letting Go – Some things can’t be fixed. Letting go isn’t failure, it’s making space for something better.
- Your Body Keeps Score – Stress doesn’t disappear, it builds up. Processing emotions properly—through therapy, journaling, or self-reflection—is key.
- The Fear of Change is Worse Than Change Itself – The unknown is scary, but the other side isn’t smaller. It’s bigger, brighter, and often better than we imagine.
If you are feeling trapped in a situation that needs to change, just take the first step.
You don’t have to see the whole path. You just have to start moving.