A few months ago, Marissa and I got our blood work done. When the results came back, some of our numbers weren’t in the normal range. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but Marissa did. She saw her own results and made a decision—to start moving more, working out, eating better, and prioritizing her health. Almost every morning, like clockwork, she’s been waking up early to hit the gym. Her commitment and seeing her go through a transformational process inspired me to take a hard look at my own habits.

A few weeks later, my journey began. I, too, started waking up early every morning at 5:30 a.m. At first, it was a challenge, but I had to make that commitment. In the early stages, it was just about getting in the steps, but over time, those walks turned into runs. I started with about 2 miles per session, then pushed to 3 miles, then 4 miles. One day, I decided I would go for 5 miles. That was one of the tougher days, but I got it done. On average, I now run 3 miles daily, which equals approximately 6,000 steps.

Each week, I’ve felt my body getting stronger, and the pain in my knees, joints, and feet has started to fade. We didn’t eat horribly before, but we tightened up our diet, making small but meaningful changes. But this journey hasn’t just been about physical health, it’s also been about mental and emotional well-being. I had to make some tough choices and let go of certain professional commitments. One was ensuring I didn’t take on too much at work, to the point where I wasn’t prioritizing myself. Avoiding negativity has also been part of this process, as it can be all-consuming. Another major shift was stepping away from my role as Board President at Fontana USD. When I let that go in December, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. I hadn’t realized just how much I had been carrying until I handed the baton to one of my board colleagues. That decision made a huge difference in my personal health, giving me the space to focus on my well-being.

Being a School Board President carries significant responsibilities that can be mentally, emotionally, and physically draining. The role requires leading the governance team, helping set the district’s vision, and managing board dynamics to ensure productive collaboration. Public and political pressure can be intense, as the president is often the face of the board, navigating community criticism, media scrutiny, and competing interests from parents, students, teachers, administrators, and education partners. Some of the toughest moments came when we had to make difficult decisions, like whether to close schools due to unforeseen circumstances. Crisis management is a major burden, as the president must handle emergencies such as school safety threats, natural disasters, and legal challenges. The time commitment is substantial, with long board meetings, endless emails, and community outreach that often encroach on personal and family time. While serving in this role was an honor, it required immense mental resilience and sacrifice. Stepping away from the presidency was a difficult decision, but at this moment, it has brought me a much-needed sense of relief and balance.

Now, I’ll be honest—this journey isn’t just about the numbers, but those who know me well know I’m a very competitive person, LOL! Once I started tracking my steps and seeing the progress, I couldn’t help but push myself further. What started as morning walks turned into daily challenges, trying to outdo my previous days. That drive has helped me stay consistent and keep moving forward.

Through this process, I’ve come to believe in what I call the 3 C’s of Personal Health:
✅ Courage – The courage to admit when something needs to change.
✅ Commitment – The commitment to start somewhere, no matter how small.
✅ Consistency – The dedication to show up every day, even when it’s hard.

Today marks 37 straight days of hitting 10,000 steps. My average for the past 37 days is 13,333 steps per day (493,331 total steps / 37 = 13,333). This journey has been about taking control of my health, feeling better, creating balance, and trying to control what I can control. It’s taken me almost 58 years of my life to figure this out, but God is still working on me. I couldn’t have done it without my gorgeous wifey, Marissa. She’s the love of my life, my rock, constant supporter, influencer, and inspiration. If you’ve been thinking about making a change, start small. One step leads to another, and before you know it, you’re running, literally and figuratively.

Let’s keep this thing going! 💪🏽🔥

#HealthJourney #3CsToHealth #KeepMoving #BalanceMatters #ChallengeAccepted #MyWifeIsMyRock