Stay True or Screw It All: Owning Your Life Through the Holidays and Beyond

Let’s get one thing straight—you’re not here to live someone else’s bullshit idea of what your life should look like. Whether you’re clawing your way through recovery, building a business, grinding on the field, or just trying to keep your relationships from imploding during the goddamn holiday season, you’ve got to make sure every move you make is yours. Not your boss’s, not your coach’s, not Instagram’s. Yours. Because the second you start living for the applause, you’ve already lost.

The holidays—let’s talk about them. Everyone’s out there with their fake-ass smiles, their perfectly wrapped presents, and their "look how happy we are" family photos. It’s all bullshit. You’re in recovery? This time of year is a fucking minefield. Eggnog laced with regret, relatives pushing your buttons, and memories of how you used to numb it all. Sobriety isn’t about being the shiny success story at the dinner table. It’s about surviving December without selling your soul to the bottle or whatever vice used to own you. You do it for the clarity, the calm, the raw truth of waking up every morning knowing you didn’t cave—not for the applause, because let’s be real, no one’s clapping for you anyway.

Sports? Same shit, different field. You think the greats play for the crowd? Hell no. They’re out there because the game is in their veins. Kids today are too busy chasing scholarships or trying to impress Dad in the stands. But the ones who really make it? They’re the ones who’d be diving for the ball even if the stands were empty. They’re not out there for the highlight reel; they’re out there because they love it. That’s how you win—by staying true to the grind, not selling out to the cameras.

And business? Don’t even get me started. It’s a damn circus. Everyone wants to be the next big thing, chasing likes, clout, and "hustle culture" like it’s the new religion. But the real players? They’re the ones who build something they believe in, even if no one’s watching. They’re not out there for a Forbes cover or some bullshit 40 under 40 accolade. They’re building because it means something to them. And if you’re not, you’ll end up broke, bitter, and wondering where it all went wrong.

Then there’s life. Relationships. You can’t fake your way through that shit—not for long, anyway. The holidays make it worse, with all the pressure to be "picture perfect." But love isn’t in the Instagram posts or the "just because" flowers. It’s in the messy, unpolished moments when you show up for each other, even when it sucks. If you’re doing it for the points, for the validation, for the "look how good we are" narrative, you’re already fucked. Real love? It’s about staying in the fight when it’s hard and ugly and inconvenient.

Here’s the truth: staying true to yourself is the hardest goddamn thing you’ll ever do. The world is loud as hell, especially this time of year. Everyone’s got an opinion about who you should be, what you should want, and how you should act. But at the end of the day, the only person you’ve got to answer to is the one staring back at you in the mirror. And trust me, you don’t want that person shaking their head, wondering where it all went wrong.

So whether you’re battling your demons, chasing a dream, or just trying to survive the holidays without losing your shit, do it for the right reasons. Do it for you. Not to impress, not to comply, not for the payout. Do it because it’s who you are. Because anything less isn’t worth your time. Stay raw. Stay real. Stay you.

And if you’re ready to go deeper—whether it’s recovery, business, sports, or just finding your way back to who the fuck you really are—reach out. This is what I do. No bullshit, no shortcuts, just real coaching to help you take back your life. Let’s get to work.