John's Story - 𝗔 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗮, 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿.

𝗔 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗖𝗨 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀, 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗲𝘀.

2025 didn’t start with resolutions. It started with a shattered femur, a body pushed too far by years of obesity and alcohol, and a quiet reckoning with the life I was living.

I wasn’t just injured.

I was depleted—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Fast forward to Christmas Day.

I was on my feet again, hand in hand with Monica, standing on ground I wasn’t sure I’d ever reach.

That contrast still humbles me.

Wheelchair → Mountain top

Addiction → Sobriety

Hustle → Renewed purpose

Facing life alone → Walking forward together

This wasn’t luck or a Christmas miracle.

It was one hard decision followed by hundreds of small, uncomfortable choices to keep going.

The work isn’t finished. I’m still healing.

Nerve damage, heart issues, balance challenges—they’re real.

But what changed is this: I stopped running from the truth. I stopped telling myself it was too late.

Back in April, I was on the edge—overweight, depressed, addicted, and scared of where I was headed.

Instead of stepping back, I stepped forward. Not perfectly. But deliberately.

I’m sharing this for anyone who sees themselves in that earlier version of me.

If you feel stuck… tired… quietly worried that decline is inevitable—it isn’t.

Change doesn’t require perfection.

It requires honesty, support, and courage when the excitement fades.

I’m deeply grateful for Monica and our tribe - all of you - the people who’ve walked alongside us—your encouragement matters more than you know.

As we head into 2026, my commitment is simple:

I’m staying the course. Personally. Professionally. Publicly.

I’ll keep sharing the wins and the struggles of prediabetes, obesity, and addiction.

And I’ll keep showing up for anyone who’s ready to take that first step.

Here’s to healing.

Here’s to courage.

Here’s to staying the course—together.

— John