Today was one of the most profound days of growth I’ve experienced in a long time.

As a student in the Integrated Health Coaching course at the University of Health & Performance, we’ve reached Day 13. The curriculum continues to challenge and stretch us, but today was different. From the moment I woke up, there were signs—little nudges from above—that this was going to be a special day. Divine intervention felt woven into the entire fabric of the experience.

Reunited After Two Decades

One of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been reconnecting with Brian, a fellow veteran. We first met in 2002 as young privates at Fort Benning, parachute riggers full of mischief, alcohol, and wild stories. Fast forward 23 years and we’re here again, now with gray in our beards, wisdom in our words, and hearts full of purpose.

What are the odds? Not only were we accepted into the same program at the same time, but we also landed in the same bunk, the same triad group, and sitting side by side in class. That’s not coincidence. That’s alignment. From the jump, we’ve been checking in with each other, not just as classmates, but as men navigating life transitions, reflecting on our pasts, and dreaming about our futures.

Morning Conversations and Grounding Moments

The day began early. I got to the gym around 5:45 a.m., just as Brian was finishing yoga. We found ourselves talking about trauma-informed coaching, and he shared that he’d used me as an example during a breakout session in his trauma course. That meant a lot.

Afterward, I spent time journaling—writing down the three things I was grateful for that morning. One of them was simple but powerful: the honor of being asked for advice by people I respect. That theme of gratitude would echo throughout the day.

The Hot Seat and an Interrupted Breakthrough

Later in the day, we entered our triad coaching sessions. I was up first as the client, with Brian observing. But just minutes before we started, Brian stepped out to take a phone call. When he came back, something was off. His posture, his energy—something had shifted.

He leaned over and said, “I’ve got something heavy. Should I bring it up?”
I looked him dead in the eye and said, “Absolutely. But don’t tell me anything now. Save it for the session.”

In our second round, Brian was the client. He revealed the weight of unexpected financial hardship, completely out of his control, that had just hit him. Yet despite being rattled, he chose to stay present. He chose to show up. 

That’s courage. That’s leadership.

His stated focus was rest and recovery, but I could see how his anxiety was hijacking that process. I gently started peeling back the layers, aiming to bring that raw emotion to the surface—not to poke, but to boil it just enough before helping him simmer it down.

Then I was interrupted. Our mentor redirected me, just as I was at the edge of something powerful. I had maybe three more questions, three more steps, and I believe we would have unlocked something important. Brian felt it too. He told me afterward that he was mentally saying, “Fuck yes, here we go. Let’s ride this out.”

But sometimes, we’re not meant to finish things in the moment.

From Chaos to Clarity

An hour later, Brian coached another student while I observed. Despite everything going on in his world, he showed up and delivered one of the most technically sound and emotionally tuned coaching performances I’ve witnessed from a peer. His reflections were sharp. His presence was magnetic. And his commitment? Unshakable.

I made sure he knew it. I told him, “Two hours ago, you almost walked out. And now you just gave your client everything. That’s not just professionalism. That’s heart.”

The Stadium Steps and the Triad of Change

After class ended, I asked Brian if he had 20 minutes to spare. We went outside to the concrete steps and sat down. I guided him through the State of Mind Triad—focusing on physiology, focus, and language. I had waited days to share this tool with him. Now was the perfect moment.

He stood up. Took a drink of water. Closed his eyes. And began to describe a recent moment when his strengths were fully alive. I documented his words, his movements, his breath.

And then I mirrored it all back to him—the roadmap to mastering his state. A map that’s always within reach, hidden in plain sight. We laughed. We cried. We shared stories. And more than anything, we sat in awe at how perfectly orchestrated the day had been.

Final Reflections: No Coincidences

Today was not a coincidence. It was divine alignment. From waking up early
To being placed in the same triad
To that phone call hitting moments before our session
To the coaching breakthrough
To the exact timing of that quiet moment on the stadium steps

God wasn’t whispering today. He was screaming.

This day—Day 13—will live in me forever. Not just as a chapter in a course, but as a defining moment in my life. A day of growth, of brotherhood, of witnessing a friend rise through adversity with courage and grace.

Brian, I love you bro. Thank you for sharing this path with me.