Winter doesn’t have to be the season you go soft and wait for “real life” to start again in the spring. This year, instead of hibernating on the couch, you can learn to ski or snowboard, shuffle through the woods on snowshoes, finally figure out how to layer for a proper winter hike, or drill your first ice‑fishing hole. Up here in the Northeast, that might look like lapping Titus or Whiteface, gliding along the Rideau Canal, chasing your kids through Saunders Farm’s winter lights, or building a backyard rink so your family’s best memories happen under the floodlights, not in front of a screen.

Twelve years ago, my degree stopped. This year, I decided I wouldn’t.

This isn’t a story about excuses or blame.
It’s about ownership.

Growing up with a multitude of adverse challenges
Leaving college with nearly $80k in debt and no degree.
Building a career anyway, Never Quitting
Raising a family.
Still feeling doors quietly close.

For a long time, I could’ve blamed the system, the cost of education, or the lack of guidance. But blame doesn’t build anything. Ownership does.

This week on the Field Notes From The Forge blog, I share the full story and the reminder I needed myself.

• It’s never too late to finish what you started
• It’s never too late to choose yourself
• It’s never too late to stop explaining your past and start shaping your future

If your path hasn’t been linear like mine… this one’s for you.

Last night, our Elf on the Shelf came back and somehow it reminded me how easily men lose the magic our kids still hold onto.

If you’re a dad, or a man who’s been running on empty, this one’s worth the read.

I had no idea I was about to join the The Salvation Army CrossFit team.

Last week, I volunteered to help the Salvation Army load a storage container full of donated clothes into a warehouse truck. I thought it would be quick. Light work. A box here, a bag there.

Nope.

Two hours later, I was sweating, sore, and dragging bags so heavy they felt one zip-tie away from being classified as body bags. But here’s the thing, it felt good. Because every one of those bags is heading to someone who truly needs it.

And while I was hauling them, all I could think about was the unseen cost behind what they do, staff, trucks, fuel, insurance, logistics, food, warehousing. It’s massive.

So this holiday season, when you see that red kettle
go a little deeper. Maybe even go a little further, take an hour to ring the bell, help at a soup kitchen, or ask how you can serve. Being a man isn’t just about strength.
It’s about service.

This week I learned something about myself I didn’t expect. I’ve gotten stronger quietly, without realizing it.

Two friends lost loved ones, and as an empath, I’ve always absorbed other people’s pain as if it were my own. Usually it knocks me off center for days.
But not this time.

I showed up.
I supported them.
I felt with them…
but I didn’t drown in it.

That’s when it hit me, strength isn’t always built in the gym, on the trail, or in the cold. Sometimes it shows up in moments like this. When you can hold space for someone without losing yourself. If you’ve been doing the inner work and wondering whether it’s “working,” maybe this is your sign, you don’t notice the growth until the moment you need it.

On a gray, snowy North Country morning, I found myself in a familiar seasonal funk, unmotivated, restless, and stuck. Instead of letting it win, I stepped outside, grabbed an axe, and faced the cold head on. What started as chopping wood in sleet became an unexpected lesson in mental resilience, grit, and the power of movement to reset your mindset.

What if “put your head down and grind” is actually holding you back from living your best life?

So, the other day I’m out for a walk, head down, laser focused like I’m on a secret mission to finish before my “deadline.” Then it hits me... when was the last time I actually looked up and noticed the beautiful late October sunshine?

We’ve programmed men to operate like robots “Grind hard, no distractions.” Yet, every other time someone looks down with stress, we tell them to pick their head up and see the good around them. So why do we flip the script when it comes to work?

Grinding without looking up is like eating a sandwich with your eyes closed, you might get the job done, but you miss half the experience.

We made it to the summit just as the sun started to rise , 38 degrees, quiet, and calm. My son looked out over the mountains and asked me to “snuggle him up,” a simple moment that reminded me how fleeting this time really is.

As fathers, we push through long weeks, heavy workloads, and endless responsibilities. But beneath all that, there’s still a man who needs space to breathe. Sometimes the strongest thing we can do isn’t to keep grinding, it’s to pause. To reset. To remember who we are beyond the noise.

Because burnout doesn’t make us better dads, being grounded does.

We’ve all been there, stuck in our own heads, second guessing decisions we’ve already made.
Confidence isn’t about being loud or fearless; it’s about trusting your own judgment when things get uncertain. In this week’s Field Notes from the Forge, I talk about how overthinking can quietly steal momentum and five practical ways men can break that cycle and move forward with purpose.

If you’ve ever caught yourself replaying conversations, doubting your gut, or hesitating when you already know the answer, this one’s for you.

👉 Read the full post: How to Stop Second Guessing Yourself

Week 3’s sunrise ruck wasn’t solo this time, my buddy Devine joined me. 32 degrees. Shorts and t-shirts. A 30-pound pack and a goal to “embrace the suck.”

We pushed through the cold, laughed at the looks we got, and ended with a hot cup of percolator coffee and a new goal: get Devine trained up to go duck hunting before the season’s over.

Sometimes, brotherhood looks like just showing up. Inviting people in. Sharing the struggle.

That’s what Forge & Freedom is all about.

👉 Read the full story

What’s one challenge you’re taking on this week and who’s walking beside you?

A rushed sunset hike turns into a lesson about clarity, direction, and the courage to move, even when the plan changes.

True brotherhood isn’t found, it’s forged.
In Brotherhood in the Making, we explore what happens when men step outside their comfort zones and into something real. It’s about the conversations that happen around a campfire, the shared silence on a trail, and the power of showing up, not as who you think you should be, but as who you really are. This isn’t another “self-help” talk, it’s an honest look at connection, growth, and the work it takes to build a tribe that lasts.

Somewhere between the cold plunge and the hike with my family, I managed to smash my big toe on a rock without even realizing it. By the time I laced up my boots, my nail was already black and blue. Every uphill step throbbed, but at the summit the pain disappeared into the backdrop of autumn colors mountains lit up like a bowl of fruity pebbles.

The real lesson wasn’t about the injury, though. It was about remembering why I do these things in the first place: to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

only one person showed up and that was enough. At 6 AM we plunged into a 55-degree river, our breath hanging in the air, every nerve awake. Back at the fire, coffee in hand, I realized this is how the needle moves: quietly, personally, one cold plunge and one conversation at a time. Staying with the determination and keeping the energy will eventually draw more men to the campfire. Forge & Freedom isn’t about numbers, it’s about showing up, for yourself and for each other.

The Northeast is about to hit peak color. Maples are strutting their fiery reds and oranges like they just discovered filters on Instagram, and the air smells like woodsmoke and change. I love this time of year, the season that proves transformation can be beautiful and a little dramatic (and no I'm not referring to the overabundance of pumpkin spice everything).

I’ve worked in a lot of offices over the years, boardrooms, cubicles, corner desks. I always kept a few family photos nearby, but nothing compares to the “office” I have now: my own kitchen table.

This is where Forge & Freedom is coming to life. A full collage of family photos sits right in front of me, a daily reminder of why I’m doing this. Every late night and every bold step forward is for them and for the life we’re forging together.

It turns out the best office isn’t about square footage or fancy furniture. It’s about purpose.

Two kids. Four A.M. alarms. Zero complaints. My 8 and 10 year old kids are already showing me up, waking before sunrise to hike for fun. If they can do it, what’s stopping you?

This October, join the Forge & Freedom Side Quest for a Big Slide Sunrise Hike on Sunday, October 5th, right in the heart of peak fall foliage. This isn’t just a hike, it’s a challenge to rise early, meet the mountain, and experience the quiet beauty of sunrise few get to see.

Spots are free but limited to just 8 participants, so come prepared: pack your coffee, your camera, and your grit. Whether you’re looking to reconnect with nature, push your limits, or capture stunning peak fall foliage, this Side Quest is your chance to prove you’ve still got it.

Are you ready to rise, lace up, and greet the mountain? Don’t hit snooze

reserve your spot today

Forge & Freedom’s Into the Fire podcast delivers raw conversations, outdoor grit, and practical wisdom to help men reclaim purpose, build resilience, and find true brotherhood. Listen for real stories, bold insights, and a spark to fuel your next breakthrough.

Modern life makes it easy to feel isolated, even when you’re surrounded by people. Forge & Freedom is about reclaiming real connection, a brotherhood built on challenge, adventure, and honesty. Step into the wild with men who push you, support you, and remind you that life is better when you face it together.

If your “breaks” involve scrolling your phone, the mirror says “exhausted,” or life feels like a never-ending loop of work and obligations, it’s time to step into the wild. Forge & Freedom takes men out of the routine and into the outdoors, where adventure, challenge, and brotherhood reset your mind, body, and spirit. Are you ready to answer the call?