Recently, I shared that I’m beginning my 24th year with Chuck Norris’ Kickstart Kids. Twenty-four years of character-building, lesson planning, and watching young people grow into their best selves. It’s been a journey filled with grit, grace, and more than a few bruises.

After that post, someone asked me a question I hadn’t considered in a long time: “So… when do you plan to retire?”

Retire?

I had to laugh. Not because it’s a bad question, but because it’s so far from how I think about what I do for a living. Retirement isn’t in the picture for me, not even in the background. When I do ride off into the sunset, my last words will probably be, “Bend your knees!”

This isn’t just a job. It’s a mission. A calling. And every time I see a student take ownership of their choices, stand up for someone else, or discover their own strength, I’m reminded why I’m still here.

I’ve come to believe that the best stories, the ones that stay with us, aren’t about heroes who coast to victory. They’re about the ones who are exhausted, outnumbered, and running on fumes… but keep fighting anyway. Not because it’s easy. Not because they don’t know what else to do. But because what they’re fighting for matters more than themselves.

That’s how I feel about Kickstart Kids. About every student who steps onto my mats. The work is hard. The hours are long. But the impact? That’s worth everything. I get to measure my success in lives changed, entire life paths and destinies altered for the better.

So no, I’m not retiring. I’m recharging.