I’ve restarted my training more times than I can count.

Sometimes it’s after an injury. Sometimes it’s after a packed stretch of life that pulled me out of rhythm. And sometimes, it’s right after a big race—when I’ve earned some time off, but now need to find my way back in.

That post-race phase can be tricky. You take a few days (or weeks) off to recover… and before you know it, the routine feels distant. The structure’s gone. The purpose feels foggy. And even if you want to train again, you’re not quite sure how to get going.

So you do what most of us do: you overthink it.

I can’t tell you how many races I’ve shown up to feeling completely unprepared. Not in the “I forgot my shoes” kind of way—but mentally.

That quiet voice creeping in during warm-up: Why did I sign up for this? I don’t feel strong. I don’t know if I have it today.

And the weird part? It doesn’t matter how much I’ve trained—or how many finish lines I’ve crossed—that feeling still shows up.

The urge to pull back. To play it safe. To wait for some spark of motivation or confidence to finally kick in. But that moment never shows up when you’re waiting for it.

We talk a lot about goals. Chasing them, crushing them, leveling up.

But not enough people stop to ask: Why this goal? And what happens if I catch it?

It’s easy to fall into achievement mode. Set a big milestone, work hard, check the box. But if you’re not careful, you’ll spend years climbing a ladder—only to realize it was leaning on the wrong wall.

I was ten minutes into a half ironman and already wanting to quit.

The swim was brutal—57-degree water, even with extra neoprene, it was cold. Every breath felt like a fight, and the chill hit like a slap every time I put my face in the water.

All around me, people were pulling off for help, tapping out, or drifting toward the lifeguards for a break. Around 350 didn’t finish the swim at all (1/10th of racers).

And I get it. I wanted out, too.

We all know the script.

Get the job. Buy the house. Climb the ladder. Save for retirement.

It’s predictable, familiar, and for a lot of people—it works. But what if it doesn’t work for you?

Building a life that feels like yours often means stepping off the well-worn path. It means making choices that don’t always make sense to the people around you. It means trading predictability for possibility—and that takes courage.

We’ve all seen the story.

A regular person stumbles into something extraordinary. They get a letter. A call in the night. A mysterious stranger shows up and tells them they’re meant for something more.

Suddenly, they’re off—chasing adventure, finding purpose, facing dangers, becoming someone new. Someone bigger than they were before.

It’s the hero’s journey. And humans have been drawn to it for as long we’ve told stories.

We see it everywhere—movies, books, games, social media. Different faces, different worlds, but the same feeling every time: adventure is out there.

Something is waiting for us, if only we could find it.

Most people think of movement as something you schedule—a gym session, a run, or a structured workout.

But movement isn’t just about exercise. It’s about how you use your body all day long.

If you only move for an hour but spend the rest of the day sitting, your body still feels the effects of inactivity. Stiffness, sluggishness, and aches creep in.

Over time, those small daily habits (or lack of them) add up—making movement harder and turning preventable stiffness into chronic issues.

That’s why daily movement matters. Not just workouts but the way you live.

Most people think of stretching as optional—something you should do but can probably skip. I used to think the same.

I didn’t feel like I needed to stretch after activity, but sometimes the next day I’d regret skipping it.

But after years of chronic pain and mobility issues, I realized that stretching wasn’t just about flexibility—it was the missing piece that brought everything together for a healthy body.

Most people think of mobility as just stretching. They assume that if they feel tight, they need to stretch more. And while stretching has its place, mobility is about more than just flexibility.

Good mobility isn’t just about how far you can stretch—it’s about how well you can move through a range of motion with strength and control. If your body can’t support that movement, then flexibility alone won’t help.

When movement becomes painful, we start to move less. And when we move less, we lose even more mobility, creating a vicious cycle that leads to stiffness, compensations, and even more pain.

For years, I lived with chronic injuries that made me feel trapped in my own body. My shoulders were impinged, my spine had an exaggerated curve that made sitting unbearable, and my hamstrings were so tight they strained my knees. Doing simple things became exhausting, and sitting still was painful.

Most runners want to feel strong, fluid, and ready when they hit the pavement or trail. But too many skip the warm-up, thinking it’s unnecessary or a waste of time.

It’s a joke among runners—we’ll spend hours logging miles but can’t seem to spare five minutes for a warm-up.

But skipping it is one of the easiest ways to sabotage your performance and put yourself at risk of injury. A solid warm-up loosens stiff muscles, improves blood flow, and prepares your joints for the impact ahead.

The wilderness is the space beyond certainty.

It’s where the familiar ends and the unknown begins. It’s where you stand at the edge of comfort and must decide whether to step forward or turn back.

The wilderness can feel intimidating. It’s full of doubt, discomfort, and the possibility of failure. But it’s also where real growth happens. It’s where courage is forged—not in the absence of fear, but in moving forward despite it.

We often let past experiences and internalized beliefs define what we think we're capable of. These labels can shape our thoughts, actions, and even prevent us from exploring new possibilities.

While they provide us some comfort through familiarity, these beliefs can also become barriers, limiting our potential and preventing us from exploring new horizons.

Have you ever stepped into a new opportunity, hit a major goal, or found yourself in a position you once dreamed of—only to feel like you don’t deserve to be there?

That at any moment, someone will realize you have no idea what you’re doing?

That’s imposter syndrome—the temporary or persistent belief that you’re not as capable as others think you are, despite clear evidence of your success.

Fitness is where many people begin their journey for change. Movement clears your mind, boosts your energy, and builds strength in ways you can see and feel. It’s one of the most accessible ways to feel better in life.

Improving your fitness goes beyond improving your body—it’s about growth and building a foundation for growth, both physically and mentally. But growth also brings moments of real discomfort.

The kind that tempts you to quit.

True growth doesn’t come from doing what’s easy; it comes from leaning into those uncomfortable challenges that stretch you in ways you didn’t know were possible.

I’ve been fascinated by habits and behavior change long before I became a coach.

As a game designer, I spent years exploring how systems and mechanics shaped player experiences. One of the biggest challenges was evolving new gameplay systems that worked despite the lifetime of gaming habits players brought with them—like how to jump, pause, or aim.

Now, as a coach and behavior change specialist, I understand habits on a much deeper level. Habits are the foundation of who we are. They’re the routines and actions that move us through life, often without us even realizing it.

Raise your hand if you’ve got too much stuff. I know I do.

I’m not an extreme minimalist, but I do try to live pretty simply. Over the years, I’ve moved a lot, often with little time to prepare, so I learned how to live small. With each move, I downsized, getting rid of things I thought I didn’t need. At one point, I could fit my entire life into a van.

And yet, somehow, at every move, I always ended up asking myself the same question: How did I end up with all this stuff again?

This weekend, I stopped by my local running store, and it was packed with people buying new shoes to kick off their running season. Everywhere I looked, someone was testing a pair, getting their feet scanned, or asking questions about features they didn’t quite understand.

At first glance, the process can feel overwhelming—so many brands, styles, and tools to help you decide. But buying the right running shoes doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little knowledge, you can find the perfect pair to keep you comfortable, confident, and injury-free.

We’re just over a week into the new year. As things return to their normal rhythm, it’s a great time to reflect on the fresh start. Did you set any resolutions or goals for yourself? Maybe you’ve made progress, or perhaps it’s been harder to stick with them than you expected.

If you’ve already struggled to keep up, don’t worry—you’re not alone. On average, about 25% of people who set resolutions abandon them in the first week of the new year.

As we step into 2025, many people are dreaming big right now. Maybe it’s getting in shape, landing a promotion, starting a new hobby, or taking that dream vacation. But how many will actually take action instead of letting this year become another forgettable one?