Reflections from March 22, 2022 – Day 11 of my journey.
There are moments in life that change you forever—moments where the world breaks open beneath your feet and nothing looks or feels the same again.
For me, that moment came on December 20, 2021, when my wife and I lost our son, Maxwell Seraphim, who was born still.
In the wake of that loss, we found ourselves asking the same haunting question so many do when tragedy strikes:
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Why us?
Why our son?
There is no answer that can truly soothe that pain. And I’ll never be someone who says it happened for a reason.
But what I will say is this:
Through that pain, I have grown in ways I never imagined possible.
A Foundation Built on Pain and Purpose
The quote that has stayed with me throughout this journey is:
“You grow through what you go through.”
It may sound simple, but it is transformational.
Grief, when faced honestly, can open something inside of us. It can reveal strength, purpose, and clarity that we never knew we had. For me, that growth didn’t come all at once—it came one step at a time.
One day at a time.
One choice at a time.
One percent better, every single day.
Living for Legacy
After losing Max, I made a quiet promise to myself and to him:
I will live the rest of my life in a way that honors his legacy.
I won’t pretend this journey has been easy. But since those early days of grief, I’ve committed myself to a life driven by purpose. As I write this now, I’ve continued this journey for over 1,300 consecutive days—each day striving to be 1% better.
That 1% doesn’t just happen in the gym. It happens in the way I show up for my family, in the way I speak to myself, and in the way I serve others through my words and actions.
The Fire Will Be Tested
If you’re on a journey of transformation—especially one born out of loss or adversity—know this:
Your fire will be tested.
People may not understand what you’re doing.
Some will question it.
Some may mock it.
Some will call it stupid.
Let them.
Because while they doubt, you’re growing.
While they dismiss, you’re discovering who you really are.
Let the resistance fuel you.
Let the discomfort stretch you.
Let the pain sharpen your purpose.
This Is the Work of Healing
We understand that healing isn’t linear; it’s a messy, winding journey. It takes resilience, reflection, and the belief that people have the capacity to grow, even through the darkest seasons of life.
You don’t have to move quickly.
You don’t have to be perfect.
But you do have to keep going.
Keep your why close to your heart. Let it be the reason you rise, the reason you push, the reason you live fully.
Because when your life is built on something greater than yourself—on legacy, on purpose, on love—
you will grow through what you go through.
And that growth, even when born from pain, is where healing begins.
From Loss to Legacy 
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