Most people don’t know this about me, but I’ve lived through some pretty serious spinal injuries. Every disc in my neck is herniated. Both of my thoracic discs too. Spine surgeons said they could fuse my neck, but operating on the thoracic area was too risky — even though that’s where most of the pain was coming from. Their advice? Stop lifting weights. Be careful. Live with it.

For about a year, I did exactly that. And it was miserable.

Then I met a Marine who had been through combat and had injuries similar to mine. He told me something I’ll never forget: the key to managing it wasn’t avoiding movement — it was getting stronger. Building muscle to support the spine. I had nothing to lose, so I followed his advice. It didn’t erase the pain, but it gave me my life back. I was able to move, play, live again.

If I had stuck with the safe path laid out by doctors, I might still be stuck on the sidelines.

That experience changed how I approach health and authority. I’ve never been one to follow the crowd blindly. I’ve never had the flu, never taken a sick day, and rarely get sick at all. So when the pandemic hit, I had questions. I’m not anti-vax — I’ve had all my basics, including tetanus — but something didn’t feel right about taking a brand-new vaccine, especially when I was young, healthy, and statistically at very low risk.

Then the mandates came. Here in Melbourne, Florida, where defense contractors are everywhere, many people were forced to choose between their job and their beliefs. Some caved. Some didn’t. The company I worked for pushed the mandate, and I pushed back. I didn’t quit. I made them fire me if that’s what it came to.

Luckily, enough people in leadership had the sense to let the pressure fade as the situation evolved. Years have passed. I was exposed to COVID many times — and I never caught it.

That’s what “My Body, My Choice” is about. It’s not political — it’s personal. It’s about questioning one-size-fits-all health advice and standing up for your own well-being. It’s about pushing through pain, taking responsibility, and making hard choices — not because it’s easy, but because it’s right for you.

Because no government, no corporation, no algorithm should ever tell you what’s best for your body.