Movement has always been the rhythm of my life. From chasing soccer balls as a kid to playing football at Cornell, running marathons, and riding my bike across the country, I’ve always found meaning in motion. Over time, that meaning has changed. What started as a way to compete and push my limits has become a way to connect, to heal, and to understand myself.
Years ago, I began experiencing panic attacks that turned my world upside down. They forced me to stop running from myself and start listening. I began paying attention to my breath, to the sensations in my body, and to the thoughts that I had tried to outrun for so long. Mindfulness and yoga opened a door I didn’t know existed. With each breath, I learned to come home to myself.
That experience reshaped my purpose. Today, as a clinical psychotherapist focusing on men’s mental health, and through the Men’s Sacred Liberation retreats I lead in Charlotte, I see every day how movement can create emotional release and personal transformation. Whether it’s breathwork, dance, or quiet reflection, movement allows us to process what words alone cannot.
Training for the World’s Toughest Row has reconnected me with that power. It is both a physical challenge and a spiritual practice. Every stroke of the oar is a reminder to stay present, to breathe, and to trust in the process. The ocean demands humility and awareness, and in that space I find peace.
Movement has carried me through every chapter of my life. It continues to remind me that growth happens when we stay in motion, when we show up, and when we surrender to the rhythm of life itself.
Be a Row4NextStep ambassador — help us raise awareness that in the U.S., 6 million people live with paralysis, facing daily challenges that extend far beyond mobility, often without access to affordable, specialized rehabilitation and fitness.
With the right resources — research-based therapy, supportive communities, and accessible care — they can live healthier, fuller lives, making access a necessity, not a privilege.
Your support powers recovery with NextStep, providing rehabilitation, training, and hope for those living with paralysis. Together, we can create strength and independence.
