Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Rivers.
Hi Candace, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As of today I’ve been working, living, studying, and professionally working in the Health & Wellness industry for 20 years. My career started at a local family-owned gym at the age of 19. An opportunity that I forever thank God for leading me to. Tom Buzan the owner of Anniston Family Fitness Center quickly became my mentor coaching me in mindset, health, wellness, scripture, people, and more. His coaching left a lasting impression on my life that I will forever carry with me until the end of day. He showed me that one of the most powerful things we can do is learn to believe in ourselves to better help and inspire others to believe and become their best selves too. His coaching leads me to launch out into my own business Fit’s Possible, LLC with the goal to empower the world around me through mindset coaching, public speaking, fitness instruction, volunteering, and community outreach. I was blessed to be operating a successful business, but I still felt like there was more. With more in my spirit, I knew it was something I needed to take to God.
In my car I usually allow silence to be my friend. Which allows me to have prayer time, moments in my thoughts, and opportunity for my thoughts & dreams to live. I often find my time in my car my “God time” the moments I just talk to Him, even if it seems crazy to others. Well, there was a particular day that forever changed the trajectory of my business while having one of the most powerful moments with God I’d had or would have while having a car talk with God. I had gotten in my car headed to my church which was a quick trip to the next exit down on i20. While merging onto the interstate I started talking out loud, and I asked a question, “Lord I know you gave me fitness, and I thank You for all you have allowed me to do through it, but I feel like there is more?” After that statement/question a moment I will never forget took place. One of the heaviest, darkest, and nastiest feelings felt like it came and sat in the car with me. The best way I can describe it would be like a wet blanket of heaviness. Then, I heard the Lord, something that had never happened before, and has not happened since that day again. I heard the Lord say, “their forgotten about, and they think they don’t matter.” (Now keep in mind I’m still driving on i20 in the left lane.) I had no clue who He was referring to so I asked, “who’s forgotten Lord? Who thinks they don’t matter?” (You know how something can be right in front of you, but you don’t really see it until you are supposed to?! Well, that’s what’s about to happen in this moment.)
After I asked that question I heard the words, “they are!” Right then in that very moment as I’m looking forward I realize there is a semi-truck in front of me, beside me, and behind me; I’m completely closed in by truckers, and I knew instantly that’s exactly who He was talking about. I immediately broke out in tears of conviction because I had personally never thought about truckers, never heard anyone in all my years of health and wellness talk about truckers, and I was guilty of overlooking an entire industry that desperately needed the very thing the Lord had called me to do (health & wellness). So I just started saying, “Lord I’m sorry, please forgive me, and what can I do?” That’s when I heard the last thing. Which was my instruction, my answer for my question, and now my forever mission. “Create something to get them healthier, happier, and let them know they matter!” In that moment the Lord opened my heart and sowed into it TRUCKERS. From that moment there hasn’t been a day that I haven’t woke up without truckers on my mind and being pulled towards how I can accomplish the mission I was set out to do.
Since that moment a lot has transpired, and much progress has happened. Walking into a world that I knew nothing about, but was grateful and honored that the Lord trusted me in it and with it. I proceeded to learn all that I could about the state of the trucking industry driver’s health, about the industry as a whole, and how I could best fulfill the mission for our national treasures (Truck Drivers). The process so far has included:
• Going to CDL school and graduating with my CDL.
• Creating workout programs that truckers on every level can do to better improve their physical health.
• Partnering with companies all across the country to collaborate to help their drivers live a healthier life on the road.
• Featured on CNN for the mission that I am diligently perusing daily.
• Been blessed with a social media reach and following of over 1/2 million following between Facebook (Candace Harmony Rivers and TikTok @fitspossibletrucking where I share mindset, physical, nutritional, relational, and spiritual coaching.
• Now, preparing to launch the very 1st magazine of its kind in the trucking industry that is 100% created around the Wellness of Truckers to cover physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational, financial, and environmental wellness to help come beside Truckers to aid in them going from Surviving to Thriving while they drive! 🙏🏼 The Trucker Wellness Magazine
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to bringing this mission has not been always easy, but it has always been guided, protected, and not allowed to be forgotten. For years I thought I was procrastinating when it came to bringing the mission to life, but what I realized that I wasn’t procrastinating the Lord was simply preparing me for the weight of the mission I was carrying. One thing I have learned is if God “truly” does call you to it He will provide for you to do it. Have the mission written down, out where you can see it daily, and keeping faith even when things look bad to know that God is going to step in with you to make them right.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Fit’s Possible, LLC also Fit’s Possible Trucking?
If there was ever something I’d want anyone to know it would be, “with God truly all things are possible.” I am a person who had a child like many others that was covered with abuse, death of a parent at an early age, foster care, teenage mom, high school dropout, and the list could go on, BUTTTTTT GOD! I decided to follow God at 19, and that forever changed my life. He has guided me, forgiven me, and never left me even when He had every reason to. Following Him lead me to be able to professionally have a career that I absolutely loved, changed my story from being written off to written in, and gave me a foundation to build from that I never had. You business, your job, your struggle is God’s platform to show people that He is working through you and that there is nothing He can’t do. Promotion doesn’t come from man or for man it is for Him and from Him. Trust and believe if he has given you that dream, desire, or purpose He will do what He said He would. You’ve just got to keep moving forward doing your part. Even if you mess it all up, get back up, dust yourself off, and keep on going because He doesn’t disqualify whom He calls even if the world does. Heck even if you do. Your life matters, your words matter, and what you are called to do is just for you! No one can take it, block it, or stop it!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I would never be able to list all of the incredible street lights that God sent throughout the darkest of times to lead me home, but here are a few.
My two amazing older sisters who were there for me when absolutely no one else were.
Every coach from youth league to high school that knew what I was going through at home, but gave me endless opportunities to escape through allowing me to volunteer at the school even when there wasn’t anything for me to actually do because they knew it was a place of safety for the hell I was in.
Truett Cathy (owner of Chick-fil-a) after going from a short stint in foster care and moving to another state (GA) to live with an aunt at the age of 13. My aunt took me to a Wednesday night youth service where he was the guest speaker. His story spoke right to my young soul. He had faced similar things that I at the time was currently going through. I went up to him at the end of him talking and shared how his words inspired me. The next day he invite my middle older sister and myself to the headquarters of the operation. Where I was able to sit and share more of my story with him in his office, toured the building, treated us to lunch at the original chick-fil-a, and then saw us off with signed copies of his autobiography that I still cherish today.
Mike Burford (Burford Tree Service)
While being honored to play sports with your daughter Mandy you knew I didn’t have money to eat at games and tournaments. You never made a scene nor let anyone see you shake my hand to place money in it to make sure I always ate. (Thank you for seeing me when no one else did).
Tom Buzan my first mentor that has forever coached me into who I am today.
Kent & Beverly Mattox (Word Alive International Outreach) my spiritual father and mother. They welcomed me in to their lives and ministry with no judgment, all love, and have for the last 20 years coached, empowered, sowed, and showed me just who God has called me to be.
Rose Leatherwood and family, Catherine McLester and family, & Sue Robertson and family for accepting me into your family’s and showing me love you didn’t have to extend.
All of my incredible friends who have believed in me.
All of my amazing followers who have connected with me to help carry my mission forward.
Last but certainly not least my 3 incredible blessings Jasper, Caleb, & Honesty! I will never stop thanking God for allowing me to be your mother. You each have something significant that God placed in you, and I see your greatness in all that you do. Jasper in so many ways saved my life and was sent by God to show me what true love was at the early age of 16. In a lot of ways we have grew up together, and because of you, I am a better person and mother. You are saved in my phone as Greatness in the Flesh because that is exactly what you are. Caleb you have been a friend just as much as a son for a majority of your life. Your wisdom and heart will move the world in a positive way. Honesty you are a joy at its highest. You came into my life at a time where the Lord blessed me with true joy. You are such a blessing to your brothers, myself, and so many others. You are my precious little joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fitspossibletrucking.com
- Instagram: @truckerwellness
- Facebook: Candace Harmony Rivers
- Linkedin: TruckerWellness
- Twitter: TruckerWellness
- Youtube: Truckerwellness
- Other: TikTok @fitspossibletrucking
