Dreams do come true….with hard work and dedication. For the last 53 days ive been working non-stop on theOasis. Its been a journey that started with 4 walls of concrete and has been transformed into what someone called yesterday “a true oasis for those of us trying to live life the right way.” It was odd that I cant remember telling anyone of this “dream” yet more than a few mentioned they had heard it before.

What made yesterday even more special for the Grand Opening/Dedication was both of my parents were in attendance. Through all the pain and worry that I put them through over the years it was special to have them interact with my new family and friends here in California. I never got a head count of how many people showed up but there were people sitting on the floor, every couch/chair was filled and the crowd overflowed out of the space. Even after the ceremony was completed I had friends who continued to show up hours later.

There was one person who came that kinda made everything come full circle for me since I was in rehab in 2007. When I was in the transitional stage of recovery she had driven down from Las Vegas to have lunch. That’s right, a 6 hour journey just to spend 1 hour giving me hope that everything was going to be ok. Everyone had heard of her over the years but this was the first time anyone had ever met her. The immediate questions from my mom, California mom and few friends were “If she’s a Christian why aren’t you dating her? Shes smart, cute and personable. There is no way she’d drive all that way back in 2007 and from Manhattan Beach today if she wasn’t interested in you.” Well she has a boyfriend and that’s a door that is closed for a reason.

Having her there was an eye opener for those who have only known me since I got sober. She ended up staying until there were only a few left and the stories that she  told…left some people speechless.   When I was in the scene for all those years all I dreamed of were nice cars, hot women and lifestyle that others would envy. I might have had all of them but what I didn’t have was peace. Right before Tiff left she told everyone “jko was cool to be around and could have anything he wanted. The Jon that you all know today…he’s fantastic. All of us from back in the day are very proud of him.”

Dreams do become reality but not without sacrifices. What I gave up so many years ago was my soul/identity yet I gained fame, fortune and popularity. The sacrifices that Ive made with my new venture are time away from my family, zero personal life and spent every last dollar I earned over the last year + told my family that I didn’t want any birthday or Christmas gifts just money to build theOasis yet ive gained my soul/identity. If I had to choose what “dream” I’d rather pursue if I had to do it over again? The one where I gained things that are priceless.