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"Change and growth take place when a person has risked himself, and dares to become involved in experimenting with his own life." ~ Herbert Otto

"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do." ~ Epictetus

The latter is my favorite quote, but I thought they would both be good ones for today.

You remember that old commercial with the kid and the owl that says, "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop?" Well, I've on occasion asked myself how many posts it would take until I decided it was time to bring my THROUGH TH3 WALL adventure to a close. As infrequently as I've been posting lately guys, and in realizing just how full circle I've really come thanks to Friday's confirmation of things I hoped were true, I must say it seems that post is this one.

It's just run it's course, I think -- pun intended ;) Four years ago I started with a plan to become someone I wanted to be, all the while facing down whatever harbored devils I discovered along the way -- and I'm proud, very proud in fact, to say I did it. It was a hell of fight, the demarcating one my life no doubt, but like all races and all journeys, this one, too, must end.

From here on out lies the tale of what I'm going to do, having become what I set out to become. My life as "Wil" has ironically turned out to be better than I expected it might, all because "Wil" was always "me," I just didn't know it at the time. That said, maybe there will be a sequel to THROUGH TH3 WALL; a website where I post story snippets or the random philosophical musings for which I've become so [in]famous. Maybe Tri-Life Lessons will transmute into Literary-Life Lessons in the stories I write and the characters I create, and with any luck, maybe those will resonate even more than the Tri-Life Lessons have because they'll transcend genre... who knows?

Now, to answer the questions likely burning out there, I do still plan to do triathlons here and there, though I plan to spend much more time on my first love, running, from here on out. I still plan to co-host WIBA each year and meet up with all my dear old (and new) friends, as well as stay affiliated with my amazing friends and teammates on Team Evotri. And as for GYGO, well, I think it's apropos we only did 49 shows; the 50th always hovering out there somewhere too full of potential to ever actually be realized on tape. One of these days when I have an extra month or so, I'll go back and make a reel of all 49 Tri-Life Lessons, adding a final one to encompass them all. I think I need a little time first to let it all sink in though; then I can do that particular job justice. But rest assured, it'll come.

On a side note, there's been some interest in turning THROUGH TH3 WALL itself into a book, and while I had different ideas initially of what my first book might be in Forging Iron Wil, maybe it wouldn't be so different after all. I guess time will tell.

In the meantime, I thank each of you for boarding this train at some point, and to you old schoolers especially for hanging on. It's been a hell of a ride, hasn't it? Your support and encouragement over the years have been a huge part of why I succeeded at this whole crazy project in the first place, and for that I can't thank you enough.

Please be advised this post will officially serve as my last here on THROUGH TH3 WALL, save the announcement of the sequel site, about which I'll make up my mind here in the next few days or so. Regardless of if I launch that site or not, however, please know this one will go offline very soon.

Whew. So we're here huh? You know something, there was a time I thought I'd suffocate and die if I didn't have this place for one reason or another. It actually panicked me to even think about it. Little did I know then the truest testimony to its worth would be the day I finally felt ready to let it go.

I guess with that, there's really just one thing left to say:

All right, everybody... until next time, this is Iron Wil, signing off.