Finding Strength Through the Storm

I was recently reading an article about the famous American soccer player Landon Donovan, and what caught my attention was his openness about depression. It is not the first time, and probably not the last time, that I have read about someone who seemed to have everything people dream of, yet still struggled deeply.

In fact, I have come to believe that this is more common than most people realize.

It reminded me of my first StrongFirst Bodyweight Certification. I trained hard for nearly ten months preparing for that challenge. I poured my energy, time, and focus into it. And then I failed.

When I returned home, I felt deeply disappointed. It seemed as though all the work had been for nothing. For almost two months, I stopped training altogether. I went to work, came home, and 0 exercise. As the weeks passed, I noticed something important: I wasn’t feeling better… I was feeling worse.

One day, I convinced myself to step outside (My warrior gym). I started with a few push-ups. A few jumps. A little movement.

Something changed.

The more I moved, the better I felt. The better I felt, the more consistently I trained. Gradually, my energy returned. My focus returned. My purpose returned. Eventually, I found myself training hard again for that same certification.

And this time, I passed.

What struck me afterward was that I could barely remember what had made me feel so defeated in the first place. The obstacle that once felt enormous had become just another step in the journey.

While reflecting on this experience, I headed to the National Library of Medicine site, where a paper discussed the effects of exercise on physical and emotional health. The findings are extensive, touching everything from hormones and brain chemistry to bone health, cardiovascular function, mood, cognition, and overall well-being.

In brief, exercise = good.

But beyond the science, I believe there is something else happening.

Exercise challenges us to confront resistance. It asks us to face discomfort, doubt, fatigue, and sometimes even failure. In doing so, it teaches us courage. It teaches us persistence. It teaches us that we are capable of more than we thought.

That is one of the reasons I love training and teaching.

Because somewhere along that physical road, between the sweat, the effort, and the repetition, we often discover something deeper. We discover resilience. We discover purpose. We discover SPIRIT.

So train hard.

Find your reason.

Take the next step.

And keep moving forward.

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Looking Beyond the Quick Fix

Another aspect of depression that we will explore more deeply in future newsletters is the role of medication.

Over the years, I have had many friends and clients bring up this concern. It is an important conversation because, as human beings, we often look for the quickest way out of pain. Sometimes that path involves medication, and there are situations where medication can be an appropriate and valuable tool.

I am a supporter of modern medicine and scientific advancement. These tools have helped countless people improve their quality of life. However, I also believe that we should understand both the benefits and the potential trade-offs of any treatment we choose.

Many medications can carry side effects. Some may increase appetite, some may contribute to weight gain, and some can affect energy levels, sleep quality, hydration, motivation, or exercise performance. For someone working hard toward improving their health, body composition, or fitness, these effects can sometimes feel frustrating and confusing.

Ask questions. Work closely with qualified healthcare professionals. To know what is helping, what is hindering, and how to make informed decisions about our health.

At the same time, it is important to remember that there are many paths that can support emotional well-being.

Exercise is, of course, my favorite. Time and time again, I have seen movement help people regain confidence, energy, resilience, and purpose.

But movement is not the only tool.

Meditation can calm the mind. Time in nature can restore perspective. Meaningful relationships can provide support. Acts of service can reconnect us with purpose. Sometimes helping another person is one of the fastest ways to help ourselves.

Depression is rarely a simple problem with a simple solution. It often requires patience, self-awareness, support, and a willingness to keep moving forward one step at a time.

And perhaps that is the lesson.

Keep searching. Keep learning. Keep moving.

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Swing Into Summer: The Summit Has Been Reached

The summit is here.

300 swings.

After weeks of hard work, learning, discovering, and battling through every challenge along the way, we have arrived at the peak of the Swing Into Summer Challenge.

What began as a simple goal evolved into something much greater. Together, we refined our technique, improved our conditioning, built strength, and discovered new levels of resilience. More importantly, we learned that progress is built one swing at a time, one workout at a time, one decision at a time.

I want to salute every brave soul who accepted the challenge and made the climb. Whether you completed every swing, modified the program to fit your abilities, or simply challenged yourself to be more consistent, you should be proud of what you accomplished.

The kettlebell swing is a simple movement, but the lessons it teaches are profound: patience, discipline, power, endurance, and perseverance.

To everyone who climbed this mountain with us….. congratulations.

And if you didn’t participate this time, don’t worry. The mountain isn’t going anywhere.

Ask me about the challenge, and I’ll be more than happy to point the way up.

Keep swinging.

Keep growing.

And remember, every summit reached reveals a new horizon.