The story of a human being on a journey of discovery, mastery, and connection
Turning a Year of Uncertainty into a Year of Opportunity
I didn’t plan on this year looking the way it does...
I don’t have a traditional job right now. No steady schedule or predictable paycheck. No clear title to introduce myself with. Just kind of feels like s***, and for a while, that bothered me more than I wanted to admit. It’s uncomfortable to say you’re unemployed, even more so when it isn't through any fault of your own, but life is like that. With that being said, there’s also a quiet pressure that comes with it — like you need to explain yourself constantly to everyone. It backfires most of the time, with folks wanting to offer their two cents on how to make things work... but how can I know what way to go on such a new path that very few have walked?
"I'm constantly feeling like I'm behind, or like I should be scrambling."
After sitting with that discomfort, I started to see something differently. This year isn’t empty, It’s WIDE open, and I get to decide what I do with it.
Choosing to Be a Workhorse
I'm tired of being the jacka** and I am choosing to be my own workhorse.
Consistent, steady effort.
A workhorse doesn’t wait for ideal conditions. It doesn’t need applause. It just shows up and pulls its weight.
That’s how I want to approach this year.
Instead of rushing into the first thing that feels safe, I’m putting my time into outreach, volunteering, and building real relationships in the communities I care about. Rally. Climbing. Endurance sports. Local events. Its going to be a BUSY year. (I'll be posting the list on Instagram of all the places I'll be volunteering at this week).
I am guaranteed nothing but experience and knowledge, but that is exactly why I started Die Hard Athletics.
Outreach Over Ego
There’s something grounding about volunteering.
You’re helping park cars.
Run equipment.
Checking athletes in.
Standing in the rain.
Solving small problems so the bigger event can run smoothly.
It’s simple work,
But it matters.
And if I’m serious about building a brand rooted in integrity, competence, and calm leadership, then I need to live that out in real spaces. You see, Die Hard Athletics is built on the idea of “Introspective Athletics.” Training not just for performance, but for presence. Movement as a reminder that life is short and we should live intentionally. If that philosophy means anything, it has to show up in how I carry myself when no one’s watching.
The Slow Burn
I’m trying to become known — in the right rooms, for the right reasons.
That doesn’t happen in a week, BUT it happens through repetition. Every event I volunteer at, every conversation had, and every choice made with a calm mind instead of reactive.
That’s reputation. Brand-building. Evidence. Whatever you call it.
Turning Frustration into Fuel
If I’m honest, part of this shift comes from frustration. I’ve worked in environments where leadership felt shaky and decisions didn’t make sense. I questioned the direction, but didn’t have control over it.
It’s really easy to criticize when you’re on the inside of something that isn’t working. I do believe it’s harder — and more productive — to ask:
"If I were building this from scratch, what would I do differently?"
If I am being honest with myself, I shouldn't really call this a gap year. I am still enrolling in college, and it would be easy to treat this time as a pause to wait until something “real” comes along. However, I don’t see it that way (and I am too impatient for fall to come along to get the ball rolling)
Not to mention, there’s a new energy in the air..
and I think I need to use it to the utmost potential.
The Standard
Being a workhorse is about consistency. It’s about waking up and asking:
What can I build today?
Who can I help today?
How can I move forward, even a little?
Some years are about explosive growth and some years are about laying brick after brick.
This is a brick year, and when I look back on it, I don’t want to remember fear or frustration. I want to remember that when things felt uncertain, I chose to show up anyway.
Steady.
Grounded.
Moving forward.
Time to light this candle 🕯
MR. BONEZ
Mr. Bones's Wild Ride
At age 5, i joined my first baseball team. I was timid and shy, and i had no clue how to play the game. I had no idea that it would lead me down the path of becoming a lifelong athlete.
At the age of 10, I made a promise to myself that id learn as much as I could about the world so that I could share what I learned with others. I hadn't realized that promise I made to myself was to become a coach.
At age 17, I took a psychology class in high school. I was fascinated by the human mind, how it made thoughts translate to action, and how it can fundamentally shape the world you perceive to be reality. I didnt know that would put me on the path to a football state championship winning team.
At age 19, my entire world collapsed in on itself when the path I was on broke me mentally. I didnt know that break would push me on my true path in life.
At age 21, I decided to go down a path no one in my family had attempted yet: following their passion. I worked full time for a restaurant and found the monotony boring, so I decided on going to the gym. I didnt know it would lead to getting my NASM CPT certification.
At age 23, I decided to quit pursuing becoming a full time trainer and return to warehouse labor. I become horribly depressed, an alcoholic, and suicidal. I didn't know that experience would lead to the most loss I ever experienced.
At age 25, I met Taylor. We both were seeking refuge in a world that abandoned us. I didnt know that we would find it in each other and id spend my life with her.
At age 30, I made the decision to leave California in pursuit of a better opportunity in Washington. I didn't know that opportunity wouldnt work out either and would leave me with another life changing decision.
At age 31, I decided to bet everything I have on a concept. I dont know where this will lead me, but I do know that this is the next step on this path i've taken.
I am Mr. Bones. This is the story of my wild ride over the rivers, through the forests, and up the summits of the Pacific Northwest.
MR. BONEZ