“Following You” – Finding Purpose From Fear And Tragedy

This one is all about finding purpose and how often times it comes from a place of fear and tragedy. I’m proud to share with you a short film we have been working hard on. 

It’s called “Following You,” and it’s about purpose, how it changes, how it grows, and how we often lose sight of it as life moves forward.

As children, our purpose is shaped by dreams. As adults, those dreams can fade, replaced by fear and trauma. But what if buried within that fear and trauma are the ingredients for a new level of purpose?

This film tells a story that’s never been told publicly. The story of my son, Steve Danielson. 

When Steve was 12, his best friend and cousin, Kainoa Boyd, was killed by a driver while training for his dream of becoming a pro motocross athlete. Everything Steve was living for died in that moment, his best friend, his outlook on life, his own pro dream, his will to keep going.

He came to me and asked, “Dad, what am I going to do now?”

I told him, “I don’t know, but I will figure it out. I got you.”

Shortly after, I was diagnosed with cancer. I remember getting the call, telling Steve, and thinking the exact same thing he had asked me: “What am I going to do now?”

Somehow, deep inside myself, I found the answer.

The next morning I went to Steve and said, “I know what you’re going to do. You’re going to win the Tour de France. You’re going to stand on top of the podium, reach to the sky, and show the world who Kai is. Kai was a dreamer, and you’re going to make the ultimate, most impossible dream happen in honor of him.”

I continued, “For my health, to make sure this cancer never comes near me again, I’m going to train so hard. I’m going to try to return to my World Tour level and in the process set the path for you to follow.” Steve agreed. And we’ve never looked back since.

Day in and day out, both of us have risen from the ashes and gotten one step closer to our dreams. What’s wild is we’ve never spoken another word about it since that morning. We hold each other accountable to honor Kai and honor my health without needing to say anything. If one is down or off, it’s the action of the other that makes it happen.

Three years later, we’ve made massive progress toward our dreams. What’s also exciting is that our dreams are still so far away. But that’s ok. Our belief is so strong in our purpose that it holds us on the path. Each little win along the way is a milestone, a celebration, and gives us confidence that we have what it takes to keep going.

“Following You” shares our story, working through tragedy to find purpose and bring Kai to life in our relentless pursuit of our dreams.

As you watch the film, I challenge you to look at your own fear and trauma and ask if hidden within them are the ingredients for a new level of purpose in your life.