January 1st is a special day, and has been for many years. It was the date in 2013 when I launched dothedaniel.com and set down a path that would take me around the world, working with some of the best brands, all the while sharing it with some of my favourite people. After thirteen incredible years, I made the decision that it was time for an evolution of sorts. As I have began the process of rebranding my socials to @danielreyescocka – and while I am still sorting out how to rebrand the blog, or finding someone who can help me do that – I thought I would touch base with you all to share why.
Before we get to 2026, I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the importance of 2025. A year of change in every possible way. From finally moving home to Toronto in June, to getting my new apartment furnished and set up (something I am still actively working on), it was nothing short of transformative. But it wasn’t always easy, and I am the first to admit that I definitely made some mistakes along the way as I shed the proverbial skin of who I once was. I lost a lot of friends along the way, and many of them I disappointed and in some way pushed away. Looking back now I wish I had handled those situations better and it pains me to know I hurt people I love and care for deeply.
I expressed this in a post at the end of the year here.
2025 was a year of substantial physical change as well. I don’t like to focus on the number because I am not here to glorify weight loss, but I have officially lost 100lbs in the last two years since my life changed completely. I worked really hard on my body while simultaneously working on my mental and emotional health. It’s a touchy subject for me because I don’t like my happiness being equated to my body and weight, and “you look so much happier” is a sentence I grew to resent. Without getting into the intimate details of it all, some of which I wish I hadn’t shared (and ultimately deleted) along the way, the decision to change didn’t come lightly. It was one I made after consultations with my family doctor and a team of medical experts. My evolution, or whatever you want to call all of this, is a work in progress. I wake up every day and have to focus on what I can control. I’ve tried to do my best.
I ended the year with the smallest circle of friends I have had in years. While I spent the holidays on my own dog sitting and with my thoughts, I worked to finish the first draft of the book I have been on-again off-again working on for almost as long as I’ve had the blog.
The Scars We Share is a book that speaks to the experiences I have had in life, both the good and the bad, that connect me to my readers and followers. Moreso, it is about what connects me to other human beings. I have felt so alone so many times in my life, and through the words and emotions I have expressed, I finally realized I wasn’t so lonely anymore. Romantically alone yes, but not lonely. A testament to the human condition, and the ability to persevere through heartbreak and ego deaths. When you get to read it for yourself, and I genuinely hope that you do, I hope it might offer some insight not only into the things I have shared with you all here on the blog. But the moments, lessons, losses, and opportunities to prove to myself how strong I truly am. I came to realize that I am capable of doing hard things, and that I am the only person who was coming to save me in life.
If you missed it, I shared the preface in the Spring of 2025 and to this day it is the most clicked blog post I have ever written. Something that brings up a lot of emotion. If you missed reading it you can click here to check it out for yourself.
I am not writing a tell all. I am not airing dirty laundry. I made those mistakes too many fucking times in my life and I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore out of malice or vengeance. But I am going to talk about the things I have lived and overcome honestly, from childhood to today, as respectfully as a I can. Now that I have finished the first draft, I am in the process of putting the finishing touches on this edit, and I have some of my peers I trust proof reading it for me in the coming weeks. Once that is done, it will be time to shop for a literary agent, followed by finding a publisher, and if all goes to plan, become a best selling author by the end of the year. Some may think that’s delusional of me, but I have always been a big dreamer, and I deserve to be happy and make all my dreams come true this year.
I love that I’m still a big dreamer and have a big hopeless romantic heart.
Midnight December 31, 2025 is a date in time that I will always remember and it was the catalyst to make the changes I needed to set myself free from the past. To forgive myself for the mistakes I made. To allow myself to start again and be excited for new experiences, new love one day if I am so lucky, and all the new lessons this new path will undoubtedly teach me.
All of that to say, I will always cherish who #DoTheDaniel was and what he meant to me along this journey. Who he got to share his adventures with. He is not “dead” by any means, but instead is now just a part of the bigger picture. Now that I am finally mentally, emotionally, and physically ready to make all my dreams come true, it’s time to embrace being not just a persona I curated for over a decade, but everything Daniel Reyes Cocka is and will be.
I can’t wait for you all to be a part of it with me.
It’s never too late to start again, and be the best version of yourself yet
*Please note that this may be a sponsored post and promotional consideration may have been offered by participating brands – my disclosure can be found at all times by clicking here.