What it Means to Live Your Own Adventures
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?
I’ve learned the hard way that life is too short to wait for “someday.”
Living with purpose and chasing adventures that give life meaning—this philosophy is so personal to me that I named my brand after it: Live Your Own Adventures.
Today, I want to share some of what this idea means to me, how it transformed my life, and why it’s the core of my coaching.
My Past: Burnout and Pain
When I first explored becoming an endurance sports coach, I was hesitant to talk about my past career. The wounds from burnout were still raw, and hard to talk about.
For those who don’t know, I spent 20 years in the video game industry as a professional designer, building levels and systems for some of the biggest titles at the time.
And for a long time, I loved it. The work was fun and challenging. I collaborated with incredibly creative people. And it paid for a lifestyle filled with surfing, rock climbing, and hiking in Southern California. I thought I’d won at life.
But as my career progressed, things changed. The hours grew longer, the projects more demanding, and the creativity dropped. I spent more time working and less time enjoying the things I loved. Slowly, I became less active, less social, and found less joy in the work itself.
By the end of my career, I was completely burned out. I was just going through the motions, and years of sitting at a desk had left me in chronic pain.
I felt trapped—trapped in a career I no longer loved, in a lifestyle that left me unfulfilled, and in a body that was breaking down.
My Healing Adventure
My journey toward healing began a few years before I left the game industry. I didn’t have control over much in my life at the time, but I decided I could control my health.
At my worst, I faced a future of 40+ years of constant pain, and I made a choice: I wasn’t going to accept that.
I had developed chronic injuries from years of bad posture and sitting at a desk:
An abnormal upper back curve (Kyphosis) that caused constant pain, even while lying down.
Shoulder impingements that made lifting my arms above my shoulders incredibly painful.
Overly tight hamstrings that caused hip and knee pain.
I was a mess. It’s hard to imagine that version of me becoming the athlete I am today.
But I started small, working with physical therapists to repair my body. I also focused on my mindset and purpose, diving into the works of Dr. Benjamin Hardy, Dan Sullivan, and Brené Brown.
My physical limitations forced me to take it slow, but I stayed consistent. Over time, I grew fascinated with how the body works and how we can heal—and prevent injury to—our bodies and minds. I earned my personal training certification, initially just to better understand how to care for myself.
What started as a journey to fix my own pain grew into a much bigger adventure.
My Mission Emerged
The more I healed, the more I reclaimed an active life.
About three years ago, I discovered Spartan races. I saw them as physical adventures, challenges that could measure my progress and push me to grow.
My first Spartan race was a personal challenge, symbolizing how far I’d come in healing and showing me how high I could climb in fitness. That race led to more events, and soon, healing turned into growth—and growth into purpose.
As I healed, I started noticing how many others around me were in pain. Like I had been, they were sacrificing their time, health, and happiness to demanding jobs, living passively rather than actively.
I began asking myself: What’s the point of life if you’re not living it?
Shortly before leaving the game industry, I worked with an incredible coach who helped me solidify my new calling: to help others move from passive lives—watching adventures on screens—to active lives of living adventures.
And so, Live Your Own Adventures was born.
From Virtual to Real Adventures
I spent my first career building virtual worlds where people could escape from their lives—crafting adventures that let players feel like heroes from the safety of their couches. While I helped others immerse themselves in these make-believe journeys, I was ignoring my own story.
The irony isn’t lost on me.
By designing these virtual escapes, I was fueling the passive lifestyle I eventually found so unfulfilling in my own life. I spent years at a desk, disconnected from the challenges and triumphs that make life rich and meaningful. I had become a spectator, both in my creations and in my own existence.
It wasn’t until I began my healing journey that I realized the truth: no virtual quest could ever compare to the fullness of real-life adventures. The satisfaction of pushing your limits, the thrill of stepping into the unknown, and the pride that comes from real growth—all of these are uniquely human experiences that no game can replicate.
This shift—from creating passive, virtual escapes to pursuing active, real-life adventures—became the foundation of my brand and coaching philosophy.
Live Your Own Adventures is about reclaiming your story. It’s about strength, joy, and living with intention—whether you’re conquering a race or finding joy in movement. It’s about empowering people to take control of their lives and embrace every opportunity this adventure of life has to offer.
As a coach, my focus is on helping people build strength—both physical and mental—while finding balance in their busy lives. Whether it’s training for their first race or simply rediscovering the joy of movement, my goal is to guide people toward experiences that bring meaning and fulfillment.
The adventures we create don’t have to be extreme. They just need to challenge you, excite you, and remind you of what you’re capable of achieving.
Most importantly, Live Your Own Adventures is about community. It’s about surrounding yourself with people who inspire you, push you, and celebrate your wins. Together, we’re rewriting the story of what it means to live fully, embracing life as the greatest adventure of all.
As I look ahead to 2025, I’m excited for the adventures that await—not just for me, but for the people I get to coach and race with. My mission is to help others take control of their health, set bold goals, and discover the confidence that comes from achieving them.
Adventure doesn’t have to mean climbing mountains or running marathons (though it can). It isn’t about the size of the goal; it’s about the courage to begin It’s about living with intention, finding joy in the journey, and pushing yourself to grow.
This year, I challenge you to ask yourself: What adventure do I want to create for myself in 2025?
Take that first step. Your adventure is waiting.