For as far back as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a superhero. How cool would it be to have the power to self-heal, to run faster than a car, have super strength? I would pray to God at night, asking him to give me a super power, any super power. I just wanted to be able to save people. This wasn’t just a childhood fantasy. I continued to pray and hope that I would get my chance to make a difference in the world, but eventually in my late 20’s, I gave up. I came to accept that there was a plan for my life, and it wasn’t going to include the ability to lift a bus or stop a gunman with no fear of being shot.
Not long after I decided it was time to move on from my superhero aspirations, my uncle was diagnosed with diabetes, placed on dialysis, and could no longer work. He had always appeared so big and invincible, but with this diagnosis and new life, I could see the small dents in his armor. For a guy who was once dominate on the basketball court, he now faced challenges with stairs and sometimes walking. I looked at my family and then looked at myself. I worked out but by no means was I healthy. I stood 5’10” and weighed almost 230lbs. I needed to make a change.
I changed my diet and my workouts to reflect the life that I wanted to live. I gave up eating fast food, pop (coke), and energy drinks. I was no longer lifting to be big and strong, but to be light and athletic. My first goal was to get under 200lbs. and be able to move like I did as a collegiate athlete. My body responded quickly to the meal changes and my workouts. It didn’t take long before people started to ask me for help with their weight loss goals. I began to train people at my gym and the feeling became an addiction. Even though I was feeling great about helping others, I still hadn’t realized my potential. I continued to work out and eat properly, eventually getting my weight down to 176lbs. That was 2 years ago, and I haven’t been over 200lbs. since.
I moved to Dallas, Tx, with no job and still no hope of receiving my super hero abilities. I knew that I moved here for the opportunities, but I couldn’t have realized what I would stumble upon. I moved into my apartment and was notified that a gym was opening in my building. I had nothing but time, why not get my personal training certificate and do it. Still feeling a little lost in my new city, I began to pray again. I started asking God for my superpowers, and when I didn’t see the subtle signs, he answered me directly. Leaving no chance to misunderstand, he opened my eyes to the facts. He put me exactly where I needed to be, to be able to make a difference. I didn’t need to ask anymore.
I now have some private clients and coach group classes. My reach is far larger than I expected, but it’s exactly what I wanted. I have the opportunity to change people’s lives. When people ask me why I want to be a professional trainer, I always answer “I just want to help people.” In the moment that I had no direction, my “why” found me. I now know my purpose and I can’t wait to touch as many lives as possible. In the end, I couldn’t save my uncle from what he endures daily, but he saved me. Now I can use my “super powers” and save others. I am making a difference in the world. One day I hope that people will look at me and say, “because of you, I didn’t give up.”