The early morning heat is already stifling. The sweat stings my eyes, and my calves burn as I ride down the pavement, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
As my bike speeds along, amid rogue sprinklers and growing sidewalk cracks, I am on a mission.
I’m remodeling myself. And I’m putting in the work to become a better husband, dad, friend, coworker, and a better man.
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The Journey to Remodeling
It’s been almost a decade since this remodel began.
When I joined the Army in Dec. 2020, I was in reasonably good shape. I felt good, strong, and ready to serve my country. When my service ended, after two deployments, I came home a wounded, worn-out, and stressed-out version of myself. Worse, I didn’t realize it.
I didn’t know what post-traumatic stress was. I couldn’t explain a lot of what I was feeling. I just knew I was tired — really, really tired.
Over time, I realized I needed to make some adjustments. The first step was finding connection. I needed conversation, friendships, a hug here and there, and a reminder that I wasn’t alone. Finding Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) gave me that.
Thanks to WWP®, I found new friendships and people who understood things I didn’t have to explain. I remember attending a men-only Project Odyssey®, and feeling a sense of safety and belonging I hadn’t felt in a long time. I was able to put down some of the heaviness I had been carrying for so long. I found connection with other veterans, many of whom I came to think of as brothers.
I came home from that program feeling lighter and more hopeful about what tomorrow might bring.
Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day
I stayed in touch with some of the folks I met on that adventure, but it took a couple of years before I was ready to take a bigger step toward working on myself. I was living life the best I could. As I thought about what came next, I kept coming back to the cliché, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It seemed to fit my journey.
Over time, I slowly began investing more time and effort in my mental health, and the stress and heaviness in my mind lessened. Eventually, I started asking myself what other areas of my life could be improved. For years, I had been riding an edge so sharp it was cutting everyone around me, especially my spouse.
I decided to focus on improving my personal relationships, starting with my wife, Jasmin. Together, we began therapy and, thanks to WWP, had the opportunity to attend some couples retreats.
We committed to having honest conversations that helped us better understand each other’s perspectives and biggest challenges. One of the hardest things I’d ever done was sit and listen as Jasmin talked about the grace she’d given me over the years, for the mistakes and missteps I’d made while trying to find myself after leaving the military. I saw how much my wife loved me through my challenges. I recommitted to our marriage and reminded myself that remodeling is hard work, but it's worth it.
There was a better future ahead.
Honoring My Body
By late 2025, I was in a better place emotionally, and my personal relationships were thriving, but I was still struggling with my physical health. Like so many others who leave the fast-paced, physically demanding life of the military, I had gained weight, wasn’t as active as I used to be, and frankly, I didn’t like who I saw in the mirror each day.
I needed conversation, friendships, a hug here and there, and reminder I wasn't alone.
I leaned into lessons from a WWP Physical Health and Wellness program I had attended years earlier. This time, I was ready to put them to work.
I began with nutrition and hydration. I became more intentional about my food and drink choices, including what and when I ate. I stopped eating foods that made me feel poorly and started paying attention to how I fueled my body. I realized that pizza isn’t my enemy, but a large, everything pizza with extra cheese is.
I also committed to getting better-quality sleep, setting a goal of eight hours each night. I soon realized that phones, TV, and late-night snacks were worth sacrificing if it meant waking up feeling better.
Riding My Way to Better Health
To get the results I wanted, I knew I also had to move more. My doctor often reminded me that even with physical limitations from past injuries, I could still be active. I just needed to find what I liked.
As I thought back on the opportunities I’d had with WWP, one kept coming to mind — a cycling event known as Soldier Ride®. A few years earlier, I joined my veteran brothers and sisters on a four-day bike ride from Miami to Key West. It was an amazing experience, riding together as a group, building camaraderie, taking in the scenery, and feeling a real sense of accomplishment.
Cycling became my movement of choice.
Challenging Myself to Do More
The next stage of my remodel came in January 2026. I felt ready to do more, so I challenged myself. In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, I created my own virtual Soldier Ride, with a goal of riding 1,776 miles.
Even though I’d ridden before, I started slow. I began riding in the gym each morning. Then I took my bike outside. A few miles led to a few more.
Soon, my clothes felt looser. As the miles added up, the pounds began to come off. But I also noticed changes beyond the number on the scale. I had more energy and agility, and I felt clearer mentally.
I rode through the spring, summer, and fall of 2026. When I traveled for work, I’d drive when I could, throwing my bike in the back of the car so I could keep riding. It became a great stress reliever at the end of a long day.
As I write this, I’ve lost almost 100 pounds and ridden well over 1,500 miles! Am I done? Of course not. I’ve got two more months to hit my goal. And when I do, I’ll set a new one.
Learn more about physical Health opportunities with WWP
Being Fully Whole
A man I respect has often said that coming home from war shouldn’t be harder than going. But often it is. In the decade since I got out of the military, I’ve struggled. Life brought challenges I wasn’t always prepared for. At one point, I wasn’t sure I would still be here.
Today, when I look in the mirror, I see the face of a man who’s been on a quest to change for a long time. But instead of the tired, worn-out man I once saw, I see someone energized and with a renewed sense of purpose.
Every day, I carve out time to talk to other veterans. My goal is to give them hope and remind them they are not alone. Thanks to organizations like WWP, I now have a strong community. I’m surrounded by an army of people who celebrate my achievements and steady me when I hit a rough patch.
Progress isn’t always easy; hard days still happen. But I keep moving forward because every day, I get another chance to show up for myself and others.
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I look down at my GPS and realize I’ve ridden over 10 miles this morning. I slow down as I head back home. The heat is still here, the sweat still stings, but I’m smiling. My remodel is a work in progress, but I’m worth the investment.