Your Moment of Choice

In many stories, a character starts with events simply happening to them. They’re reacting to events, unable to determine their own path.

We see this in Frodo as he journeys to Rivendell. Yes, he makes a few real choices early on, but he’s directed by wise guides, saved from repeated peril, and ultimately carried to Rivendell. He does not yet have the knowledge or formation needed for true agency.

But when Frodo attends the Council of Elrond, he is given a real choice:

Go home to the Shire… or step forward and carry the Ring to Mount Doom.

That moment — the moment of chosen responsibility — is when Frodo becomes an active participant in his own story. He is no longer a passive observer.

We all follow this same path from passivity to participation.

From Childhood to Choice

As children, life mostly happens to us. We eat what our parents give us, wear what they choose, and follow the rules they set. This isn’t weakness — it’s necessary formation. Like Frodo before Rivendell, we don’t yet know enough to choose well.

But as we move into young adulthood, something changes.

We slowly gain the ability to act — to take ownership of our lives.

The tragedy is that many men never make that transition. We grow older without growing active. Instead of stepping into responsibility, we drift. We blame circumstances. We wait for things to improve on their own.

We adopt a quiet, subtle victim mentality without even noticing.

The Drift Toward Passivity

To be clear: there are real victims in this world. Some men carry heavy trauma and need time, help, and healing.

But many of us — and I include myself in this — simply fall asleep at the wheel.

We gain weight and shrug, “That’s just getting older.”
We lose our temper and say, “Well, they shouldn’t have said that.”
We fall into debt and blame “the economy.”

Sometimes those excuses have truth behind them.

But often, if we’re honest, we know we could have done better.

Life doesn’t only happen to us.
Sometimes we quietly choose to let it.

A Word From Rocky

Rocky said it simply:

“If you know what you’re worth, go out and get what you’re worth — but you’ve gotta be willing to take the hits. And not pointin’ fingers sayin’ you ain’t where you want to be because of him or her or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you!”

What are you worth?
Who are you blaming?

We may not want to reflect on these questions, but facing them is part of becoming a man.

My Own Shift

I’ve lived on both sides of this.

There were years when I drifted — working a job I didn’t love, coasting in habits that didn’t make me stronger. Things didn’t change until I changed. Until I chose to train, to pursue a better path, and now to confront our debt with real purpose.

I had a choice, and for too long I chose to drift.

Now my choice is to create a life worth living.

Your Moment of Choice

This is the invitation:

If you’re unhappy with your health, start moving.
If anger rules you, begin a daily reflection and reclaim your peace.
If debt weighs you down, face the numbers and make a plan.

None of it is easy.
But you get to choose your hard.

Ease rarely leads to strength.
Responsibility always does.

Don’t wait for life to happen to you.
Step forward. Choose. Act.

Every man eventually reaches a moment of choice — an opportunity to stop drifting and start directing his life with purpose.

Maybe yours is today.

Forge Ahead

Anvil: the place of formation.
Arrow: the mission we’re sent on.

The world needs more men formed in virtue. Forward this to a brother who’s ready to grow.

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