At 27, I founded a construction company with fast growth but eventually went bankrupt, losing almost two million dollars on one project in 90 days. After losing everything I owned, I ended up working as a part-time custodian to take care of my family and pay the bills, just to survive. I ended up having my rock, bottom, spoiled-milk moment when someone's maggot filled trash, rotten disgusting meat, spoiled funky milk, got all over my body, my skin, and my clothes! After that moment, I sat down on a curb with my head in my hands and I cried for 10 minutes. After that setback moment, I made the decision that I put myself on the curb, so I was gonna have to get myself off of the curb! And from that moment, with a super strong mindset, I took full accountability/full responsibility, and I worked my butt off to get my life back on track! And in a position of living the life that I deserved to live! After that setback, I had to use attributes like grit, determination, and adaptability to get my life going in the right direction! So that setback moment, was a pivotal moment in my life without a doubt!
Transitioning from the adrenaline of an athlete's life to the sedentary world of an office job was harder than I realized. I ignored my posture, sat in poorly designed chairs, and continued pushing my limits with extreme sports. The result? Two herniated discs in my lower back. When my doctor said, "You need surgery-and no more beach volleyball for the rest of your life," my heart shattered. Volleyball wasn't just a sport; it was my joy, my escape, my connection to life itself. The thought of losing it felt like losing a piece of who I was. But I couldn't accept that as my reality. I decided to fight for myself, for my joy. Instead of surgery, I sought natural ways to heal. I immersed myself in learning about my body, rebuilt my strength with focused exercises, corrected my posture, and gave my body the time and care it desperately needed. Slowly, my body responded. Today, I'm back on the beach, playing at a competitive level with a renewed gratitude for what my body can do. This experience taught me that our bodies are far more resilient than we think-they can heal when given the right environment. Never give up on your body-it's the most valuable asset you have.