Rebel Talk: The Show Up
There’s something sacred about showing up. Not just physically, but wholeheartedly. Even when life looks different than we imagined.
This week, I’m out in the Black Hills of South Dakota with my two boys. It’s one of those bucket list trips for a Midwest family — Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, all of it. But like a lot of things in my life these days, it’s not the traditional version you often see in the travel brochures. I’m divorced. And that changes things.
But here’s the truth I’ve come to embrace: different doesn't mean broken.
It just means you find new ways to make the moments count.
This trip isn’t just me and the boys. I'm fortunate my sister and her family are with us — their energy, laughter, and presence bring a rhythm that makes everything easier, more natural. It feels like family. Because it is family.
And behind the scenes? My girlfriend. She's not on the trip, but she was in the trenches with me weeks before we hit the road — helping plan, organize, and make sure it all came together. Her love shows up in the details. The reservations. The packing reminders. The “how's it going?” texts. That kind of showing up matters just as much as being there in person. I'm fortunate.
And I think that’s the heartbeat of this whole thing.
When people show up for each other, life becomes beautiful — even when it’s messy, even when it’s not picture-perfect.
I’ve learned that being a Relentless Rebel in life isn’t just about grinding solo. It’s about knowing when to raise your hand and let others help. It’s about knowing that showing up for someone else — your kids, your sibling, your partner, your friends — isn’t just an obligation. It’s a gift. One that echoes for years.
Because the truth is, memories aren't made from perfection. They’re made from presence. From sitting around a campfire. From laughing in the car when the GPS takes you the wrong way. From hiking a trail and watching your kid marvel at the view.
You don't have to have the perfect setup. You just have to be there.
So wherever you are in life — divorced, married, single, overwhelmed, starting over — just keep showing up. For your people. For your kids. For yourself.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
You just have to say, “I’m here.”
That’s how we build something beautiful. One moment, one presence, one act of showing up at a time.
If you're divorced, going through a divorce, or life just doesn't look "perfect".... In the end, it's not how perfect it looked, but how present you were.
Stay Relentless,
Ryan
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