"It seems important, even critical, to tell every star from here to the black between the galaxies that you will be strong again." ("Ghost Fragment: Earth")
I’ve been a gamer as long as I can remember, it’s a foundational part of me. The first game I ever remember playing was Super Mario Brothers on the NES. Soon after, The Legend of Zelda. It turns into a blur from there-- Final Fantasy, King’s Quest, EverQuest, World of Warcraft, Destiny, and countless more in between. In these games, I was the hero of the story. Always defying death, always saving the day.
In the real world, I was something different. Outgoing and funny, but hiding the way I really felt about myself. Self-deprecation as a means of making fun of myself before anyone else could make fun of me. The truth is, I haven’t ever much liked myself, for any number of reasons, but one of them was my health and body image. I’ve always wanted to be more healthy, both inside and out, but I never knew how to get there.
18 months ago, I started a journey to make myself better. To eat better, to live better, to love myself and the skin I live in. Whenever I finally run out of extra lives, I want to go with a body that was well and truly lived in, and used. I began logging what I eat. I began exercising almost every day. I began going to the doctor to stay in front of any health issues that might pop up. And I promised myself I wouldn’t stop, ever. I would continue to level up and evolve to the best version of myself. I wasn’t content to be an 8-bit hero, I wanted to be a hero in the real world.
I’ll always be a gamer. That’s who I am. But I’m also a husband, a father, a physician, and so many other things. I will always dream of being the Wizard, the Priest, the Guardian. But now I also am excited about being Eli. I hope you’ll follow me on this journey into an 8-fit Hero, and I hope maybe you’ll join in with me. It’s time to begin.
“Guardians make their own fate.”
It's up to you: the game doesn't begin until you hit"Start."