Guest speaker Billy Garton Jr recently visited BRHS to talk about mental health issues and his journey as an athlete. 

Garton grew up playing soccer and went on to play Division 1 soccer in college, playing professionally afterward. About a year ago he tore his ACL, throwing him off the path he had planned out. That is when he decided to become an advocate. Garton even reflects on his life, saying if not for the injury, he would still be playing professional soccer. Now he travels the country advocating for men’s mental health and helping out other athletes.

Garton recalls having a rough time in high school. He was open about the fact that he was different and bullied as a student. The struggles that he underwent in his adolescent years allowed him to understand that if you listen to what others think of you, it will become what you think of yourself. They also set him up to invest in his healing journey, which now enables him to help countless people all over the world.

When Garton was in high school, he recalls not knowing what he wanted to do. After his injury, he was unsure of his future and “where he was going”. During the Q&A session, he talked about how these struggles helped him learn a valuable lesson about life — the idea that “you have time.” It was only once his life started to slow down that it sped up.

Garton is the founder of the “You Choose” movement, which focuses on the choices a person has to make in their lives and the importance of making your own decisions. Garton recalls that growing up, the choices he was making were made for him. “You Choose” helps people reclaim the power of choice in their own lives to ultimately reclaim their lives. 

Part of his movement is the idea of implementing a “Chooseday” into your weekly schedule. One day every week is dedicated solely to healing and recuperation. Garton describes it as  “filling up his own cup” because he noticed we spend all of our time “filling up other people’s cups.” Garton invented the “Chooseday” because he felt that we naturally believe we come last and spend all of our time helping others, exhausting ourselves. If we have nothing left in our “cup”, we cannot give enough love or energy to those around us that need it.

At the end of the session, Garton asks a question to the audience, emphasizing his primary message of learning to just let things happen and focusing on your own health: can you be dedicated to healing but unattached to how it happens? 

To learn more about Billy Garton Jr. and his “You Choose” movement, visit his website here.