15/10/2024
Hey, Iโm Josh, and Iโm proud to be one of the co-founders of RISE UP.
To be honest, I never imagined Iโd be here, creating a space like this for other men. Iโm 35 years old and have spent 18 years in FIFO mining, a lifestyle that comes with its own challenges. Iโm happily married, and my wife has stood by me through thick and thin. Weโve got two dogs, two cats, and I have a serious passion for cars...especially high-horsepower machines, I like to go fast.
My journey hasnโt been a straight path. Growing up, we moved around a lot, lived with very little, and I struggled through school. With no father figure around, I had to figure out who to be and how to be. It wasnโt easy, and for a long time, I carried the weight of those early challenges, always feeling like I wasnโt good enough or like I had to face life alone.
In 2008, I hit one of my lowest points and attempted to take my own life. A month later, I lost a friend, a brother to su***de. If only we had spoken to each other, maybe things could have turned out differently for both of us. That experience stayed with me and deeper I went down the hole, and itโs one of the reasons Rise Up means so much to me. We need to talk, to be vulnerable, and to support each other as men.
My healing journey truly started in 2020, right before COVID hit, I lost my job due to actions none other than mine.... this was a wake up call. So I began to find the tools that helped me heal, breathwork, hypnosis, and self-discovery. Slowly but surely, I started reconnecting with myself and began to grow into the man I am today. My wife has been by my side every step of the way, and Iโm forever grateful to have her in my life.
But hereโs the thing, Iโm still growing. Iโm proud of everything Iโve been through, but what Iโm most proud of is the man Iโm becoming right now. Thatโs why Rise Up exists. Itโs not about pretending to have it all figured out. Itโs about creating a space where men can come together and be real. Whether itโs me, Dave, or Brett, weโre just three guys whoโve faced our own battles and are committed to becoming better men...not just for ourselves, but for the people we care about.
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