CHAPTER 5: ROOTS IN THE CHAOS

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

•  George Bernard Shaw

Bangkok claimed me like a whirlwind. Arriving by bus at dawn, broke but determined, I interviewed for a personal trainer role and started the next day at 6:30 AM with client Duncan on Sathorn Soi 1.

Personal Trainer at The Lab, 8 years

The city pulsed with energy—traffic chaos, street food aromas, endless nights. I built a loyal clientele, not just training bodies but holding space for souls. Clients shared struggles, and I listened, drawing from my own detours. Weekends escaped to Gulf islands: Koh Samet, Koh Samui, Chang, Koh Kood, Koh Larn, Koh Mak—each a reminder of the calm I craved. Eight years flew by, filled with antics I’d someday chronicle. But beneath the vibrancy, a void grew. I was living from the outside in, proving worth through hustle.

Koh Lanta, Thailand 2019. With Dr Cherie, Michael & Lynnie

Then, catalysts emerged: a 2019 New Year’s trip to Koh Lanta with friends Dr. Cherie, Michael, Lynnie, Galina, and Henk. At Dr. Cherie’s beach house, sailboats glided past, sparking a vision—coaching on the sea. Walking the beach, creativity surged; the horizon cleared my mind, revealing: Environment shapes transformation. The seed of Sea Beyond was planted.