Locking Shields & Building The Man House

February 2025 — momentum was rolling.

I was deep into my Crown & Shield Training, showing up four times a week and jumping into any open Shield Wall session I could get invited to. Those Zoom calls weren’t just meetings — they were battlegrounds for the soul.

It was a space for men to drop their armor and tell the truth. No shame. No blame. No judgment. Just brothers standing shoulder to shoulder, fighting their demons together.

It became my home base — a place where I could be real, raw, and reminded that I wasn’t alone. Every man there had my back, and I had theirs.

But even with all the progress, I could feel something was still missing. You know that feeling when you’re almost done with a puzzle — but the last three pieces are gone because your little brother fed them to the dog? Yeah, that.

There was a deeper level of growth calling me. Something that scared me — which was exactly why I knew I needed to do it.

That next step was Warrior’s Way Mindset and Spartan Training.

See, for most of my life, I’d been afraid of confrontation, of speaking my truth, of chasing my dreams too boldly. I cared too much about what people thought. But I knew — if I wanted to evolve into a Good Man — the kind of man God could trust to lead — I had to confront all of that head-on.

So I started asking questions about Spartan Training. And wouldn’t you know it — the next unit was starting in March 2025.

By then, the house had sold, and I finally had the means to invest in myself. To pour money, energy, and faith into something that would strengthen me in Spirit, Heart, Mind, and Body.

So I said the words that had burned in my chest for years: “Fuck it — I’m all in.”

And for once, that wasn’t recklessness. It was obedience.

But February wasn’t just about forward motion — it came with some unexpected turns.

I suddenly found myself taking 100% care of my son. The 50/50 custody went on pause. I won’t share the details about his mom — those aren’t my stories to tell.

What I will share is this: we all have our demons. And I learned something powerful in that moment — when you can pray for the person who hurt you, that’s when you’re finally free.

So I prayed for her — deeply and sincerely:

“May she be surrounded by peace that actually sticks, strengthened with courage that doesn’t shake, and lifted by love that reminds her she’s never walking alone. May her days open with clarity, her burdens lighten without a fight, and her heart stay protected and whole. Bless her health, her purpose, and her joy — because when she thrives, our son thrives too. Guide her steps, steady her spirit, and keep her covered in grace.”

That prayer became my release. It was the moment peace replaced resentment.

And in that peace, Tristen and I started building what we called The Man House.

It wasn’t about ego or toughness — it was about growth, discipline, and faith. We created our own creed — a simple set of principles to live by:

• Be ambitious to kill laziness.

• Seek wisdom to kill anger.

• Find courage to kill fear.

• Commit to growth to kill ego.

• Be at peace with who you are to kill jealousy.

• Live confident enough to never accept doubt’s offer.

That was our foundation. That was our training ground.

We kept our space clean. Tristen learned how to vacuum, do laundry, prep fruit for snacks, and help with dinner. We made chores part of the mission.

And of course, there was still fun — new haircuts, tacos at our favorite Mexican spot, goofy school projects, and food truck adventures.

Oh — and yeah, the puppy we had got had to go back to the ranch we got him from. He had parvo and I was in no way skilled enough to care for his little spirit.

Everything else felt alive again. The house was steady. The energy was grounded.

And for the first time in a long time, I felt it:

I was finally in control — not of everything around me, but of the man within me.