Don’t Die Wondering (DDWs)

 

Completed	Task
X	1000 hours of Community Service
X	Adopt
X	Attend a Dallas FB Game
X	Attend a Murder Mystery Dinner
X	Backpack Scotland
	Backpack the Grand Canyon
X	Barefoot ski
	Be on a TV show (Reality)
	Be on the Tonight Show
X	Be on TV
X	Become a Certified Teacher/Professor
X	Become a Police Officer
	Become an expert marksman
	Become an honorary Spartan
X	Blow Glass
X	Build a Fort/Treehouse
	Build a log cabin
X	Build an Igloo
	Carve a canoe out of a tree/log
X	Catch a snowflake on your tongue
X	Chase a tornado
	Climb a major mountain
X	Come up in the St Louis Arch
	Compete in a prof. sport
	Compete in the Scottish Games
X	Complete a triathlon
	Cowboy a cattle drive
X	Create a Website
X	Develop a community garden
X	Disciple 12 people
X	Do a barrel roll in a Kayak
	Do a pushup on the Four Corners Monument
	Do a stunt for a scene in a movie
X	Do the Color Run
	Dog sledding in Alaska (Iditarod)
X	Donate Blood
	Drink a Beer at Oktoberfest
X	Drive a Lamborghini
	Drive in a demolition derby
X	Drive over a 100 mph
	Drive Route 66 (Chicago to LA)
	Drive swamp craft (hover craft)
X	Drive-In Movie
	Earn a Blackbelt in a Martial Art
	Earn multiple Graduate Degrees
	Eat at a 5-Star Restaurant
	Eat Black Broth/Soup
X	Eat Chinese leftovers for breakfast
X	Eat Haggis
X	Experience no gravity
X	Fast for 40 days
	Fight a pro fighter/MMA
	Fill up a Passport
	Find a German Castle with BERG on it
	Finish a Marathon (Spartan Beast)
	Fire walk
	Float in the Dead Sea
X	Fly a plane
	Fly far way to just eat
X	Fly First Class
X	Forge a blade
	Get into the Guinness book of WR
X	Get Lost in a Corn Maze
X	Get out of a ticket
X	Give to a Charity… Anonymously
X	Go Cliff Diving
	Go Geocaching (Find over 100 places/things)
	Go off roading
*	Go on a 1,000 mile bicycle ride
X	Go on a Cruise
X	Go on a Police Patrol
X	Go on a Road Trip flipping a coin
X	Go Sailing
	Go Sky Diving
X	Go Spelunking
X	Go to a Drive-In Movie
X	Go to a Movie Premier Dressed-Up
	Go to random house & eat with them
X	Grow a Garden
	Happily Married (Be a Great Dad)
	Have a recognized cattle brand
	Hike the Appalachian Trail
X	Hike to the top of the Wallace Monument
	Hot Air Balloon ride
	Ice skate on a pond
	Invent and patent something
	Learn 3 instruments
	Learn 3 languages
X	Learn Archery
	Learn Car Maintenance (Change Oil, Brakes, etc.)
	Learn to Juggle
X	Learn to Play Chess
	Learn Yoga
X	Light a match with a .22 shot
	Make a delivery in a semi truck
X	Make an Arrest
X	Make My Kids Smile!
	Meet a president
X	Meet Royalty
	Mine a diamond or gold
	Own a bald eagle
X	Own a Hoplon
X	Own a Kilt
	Own a yellow Jeep Wrangler
X	Participate in some LARPing
X	Perform a Wedding
X	Plant a Tree
X	Play College Football
*	Play in prof. poker tournament
	Play organized rugby
	Presidential Medal of Freedom
X	Publish something
X	Put "$100 on black"
X	Read Bible cover to cover
	Research my Family Tree
	Ride a Bull
	Ride a Camel in the Desert
X	Ride a fire truck to a fire
X	Ride a horse bareback
X	Ride a Mechanical Bull
X	Ride a Seqway
X	Ride in a helicopter
X	Ride in a Limo
*	Ride the top 10 Roller coasters
X	Run a half-marathon
	Run for mayor/political office
X	Run the "Rocky steps”
X	Run the field at Dallas stadium (Stand on the star)
	Run with the Bulls (Spain)
	Save a life
X	Scuba Diving in Hawaii
	See a Aztec or Mayan Temple
X	See a Solar Eclipse
	See an active Volcano
X	See Big Ben
X	See London Bridge
	See Mount Everest
	See Mount Rushmore
	See Niagara Falls
X	See the Changing of the Guard
X	See the Empire State Building
	See the Golden Gate Bridge
	See the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro
	See the Northern Lights
	See the Parthenon
	See the Sistine Chapel
X	See the Statue of Liberty (Ellis Island)
	See the Taj Mahal
X	See U2 Live (front row)
X	Sell a House for a Profit
	Serve on a jury
X	Shake Chuck Norris' Hand
X	Shoot a quarter from 100 yards
X	Shower in a Waterfall
X	Sing for a famous person
X	Sing in a Cathedral
X	Sing Karaoke
X	Skinny Dipping in the ocean
X	Skip School
X	Sleep in a Castle
X	Smoke a Cuban Cigar
	Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
	Solve a Rubik’s Cube
	Spend 30 days off the grid
X	Spend the night in Beverly Hills
X	Squat 600/Bench 400/Run under 5
	Stand on the Equator
X	Start a Company
*	Stay in Walmart for 3-Days
*	Stay overnight in a haunted house
	Swing on a vine in an African jungle
X	Take a stranger to dinner
	Travel to the coast on $20
X	Tropical Snorkeling
X	Visit a military facility
	Visit all 50 states (Alaska) w/ the Kids
	Visit all 7 continents (Set foot on Antarctica)
X	Visit an Orphanage
	Visit Battle of Thermopylae monument
X	Visit Disney Land
X	Visit Disney World
	Visit Israel – Jerusalem (Walk the Via Dolorosa)
	Visit New Zealand
	Visit Stonehenge
	Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
X	Visit Times Square at Night
X	Visit Washington DC (important monuments)
	Visit Yellowstone National Park
	Walk in the Colosseum
	Walk on the Hoover Dam
	Walk on top a moving train
	Walk the Great Wall of China
X	Wash Dishes to cover your bill
X	Watch all 100 AFI Films
X	Watch all best picture winners
	Watch SNL live
X	Wear a Dallas Cowboy Super Bowl Ring
X	White water raft
	Write a Book

*No longer a desire to complete.

#Sparking & #SparkChallenge

A lot has happened in the past 35 days, culminating with a recent picture of the President & CEO of the largest company in the world “Sparking” in his office… But what is it? Where did it come from? And who is Surge!?

On June 8th, 2018, under the direction of the newly hired Marketing Director of Store Experience, Zach Lones, fifteen Walmart stores embarked on a 60-day Instagram trial run.  Our mission: Reach 6,000 combined followers by August 7th by word of mouth and sharing, without boosts. (At release of this post we are at 5,300+ followers!)

Many stores saw immediate success hitting the ground running with posts and connecting with their very own associates and customers. But it was just a few days in (June 11th) when Surge and two friends (Taylor & Chris) sat down and began dreaming of ways to make an impact. Nearly one hundred ideas came from that meeting and continue to evolve and be added to… Some we have already seen and many still yet to come! One of the ones that acted upon that same night—SPARKING! Immediately the three went to the closest Walmart store and took a very awkward picture with one individual standing with their arms spread wide while another stood behind doing the same but in the opposite direction, creating the Walmart Spark (the company logo and icon).

 

Many other variations were tried, the “sorority pose” and “chicken wing”, but only one remained (for now).

 

Over the next few weeks Surge began to encourage local associates to partner up and “do Sparking” for pictures.

 

However, #Sparking began to evolve into a single associate jumping in the air with their arms and legs spread making the Spark on their own. Which has become a favorite!

 

This of course gave way for the infamous walking up on associates and asking them to “Spark” or “Spark-It!”

 

And it was shortly thereafter when the first official #SparkChallenge was thrown down from one individual to another.

 

As more and more associates began to show their Spark the movement grew until the day a visit from the President of Walmart US Greg Foran and CFO Brett Briggs showed up at Walmart Academy Store 4637 where an associate asked for the two to pose “Sparking.”

 

These pictures spread like wildfire… It was here Surge asked the question to followers on the store’s instagram page: “Who would you like to see Spark next?” The response was overwhelming and unanimous… Doug McMillon the company’s President & CEO. #CanDougSpark was born!

 

After only 3 days, Surge received an email: “Can Doug Spark? Yes I Can!” And with that, Monday, July 16, 2018 was put on the calendar. Surge arrived to Walmart Home Office at 7am to go LIVE on the air with Walmart Radio DJs Bo & Antonio to spread the news.

 

And then at 10am the first official picture and video went live (Doug was an amazing sport and is a very humble leader)!

 

With hundreds of views and shares and multiple social networking platforms in only a few hours, the movement has no end in sight.  In fact, #Spark pictures continue to form!

  

And now associates AND CUSTOMERS from all over the world continue to get more and more creative in showing their SPARK!

 

Are you still curious on just exactly “How to Spark”… Lucky for you, we happened to have found this VHS recording of ‘The Official Guide to Sparking!‘ 🙂

Oh and by the way… I’m the one they call Surge!!  Why am I so passionate about the #Spark!? Because the spark is me, THE SPARK IS YOU, the spark is something exciting, something new!! Sam said, “If you love your work, you’ll be out there every day trying to do it the best you possibly can, and pretty soon everybody around will catch the passion from you – like a fever [a Spark].” We can all use a little more spark in our lives and each one of us can be that spark for our friends, our families and even at our jobs!!

Thanks so much for taking a few minutes to read this… If you’re ever in my area, come on in and tell me hi, I’d love to take a #Sparkie (Selfie) with you!!

Now go find a store near you and get Sparking… We can’t wait to see it!!

**Follow Surge on Instagram @thesurgeberg and the store that started it all @Walmart4637

July 30th UPDATE… Since this blog was posted THOUSANDS of sparks from all over the world have been popping up! If you took a pic, please post it with the #Sparking and #SparkChallenge so we can see it.

Please keep sending me your notes and thoughts, I love seeing and hearing how this whole movement is encouraging you in the store and in life!! 

ALSO, be on the look out for HUGE news from our partner and an amazing organization: Children’s Miracle Network #SparkingForKids

Oct. 1st UPDATE… Did you see the cover of Walmart World today!?

Do you React or Respond…

I originally wrote this post over 5 years ago (2013) about parenting but there’s a lot of good stuff here for managers in any work environment.  Enjoy!

My wife is not only an accomplished volleyball player but she played and coached Division 1 (Go Golden Hurricane) for many years.  Knowing this about my wife is one thing, but finding out in-person is another.  One day several years ago I made the mistake to go “play” some volleyball with her and a group of old players.  I was not too concerned upon arrival knowing I myself was a college athlete and had picked up a few things from watching friends compete in volleyball at school.  Don’t get too ahead of me here!!!  It only took two solid “blocks” with my face before I really wanted to know the difference in what my wife was shouting: “You have to respond Jeff… You keep reacting!”

To me, the average guy, I saw the hitter go up and I embraced for impact… At best I kept my eyes open and once the ball was hit tried to move my arms high enough to return the hit.  This however, is Not responding but only reacting.  What Courtney was trying to tell me was you have to read what they are wanting to do and adjust accordingly.  From years of preparation and practice she was able to determine not just who was going to hit the ball but where it would be hit once it came off the hitters hand!  She took into consideration: who was on the court, how many blockers were at the net, which way her hips were facing, what she had done several plays earlier, etc.  And so in responding she was able to “dig” or return virtually every hit by our opponents… As long as I got my face out of the way!!

In parenting I see a perfect parallel for us think on…

Let me paint a quick picture for you:  It’s 12:27am and you’ve called and texted a half a dozen times but have heard nothing.  You have your spouse call your phone to make sure it is working properly.  You check the news to see if there was any big accidents and are just getting ready to text their best friend when… “I’m so sorry!!  I didn’t see that you called until just now when I was walking in!!  Can I just have a second, okay third, chance”

How many times have you had this conversation?  Are you being that strict!?  All you are asking for is a simple phone call or even text if you’re going to be running late, is that too much to ask!?  What if…

Do you React or Respond?

Are you prepared to respond?  I bet when you think about it you can see some common behaviors that have surfaced.  I bet you can probably guess that at some point the boundaries will be tested (and probably already have).  I bet you can even predict that some choices change depending on who they are with and what they went out to do.

“Reacting is based on emotion, which we all know is rampant when dealing with a teenager.  

We Respond to the situation when we step back from the emotion and take a moment to think through what is really going on.  It’s not easy!  Parents, the secret is out. The map to your “buttons” has been published, and your teen will push them…Repeatedly!!  But we do our own share of pushing, don’t we?  You know what makes your teenager crazy and sometimes, just sometimes, it feels really good to give them a good share of their own medicine.  At least for a moment, until we realize we have done exactly what we are trying to teach them NOT to do!” (by ParentMinistry.net)

Three quick things to consider when rewiring ourselves to Respond:

• Discipline is about Training not about Punishment… It’s not just to remember the ouch but the why.  Know why you said no. If it doesn’t make sense, have the courage to retract it.  Second chances are always necessary when it comes to our teens.  Grace always gives a redo. Give yourself grace too.
• Breathing… it gives you a moment to lower your blood pressure.  The part of our teen’s brain that controls reasoning is still underdeveloped at this point.  They use a different part of the brain geared towards instinctual decisions or risk taking.  Peer pressure is a large influence in our teen’s decisions.  At this point of our teen’s development, they are trying to become independent of us.
• Develop Contracts for the major occasions (Cell Phone, Driving, etc.)  Clearly communicate the expectations and consequences, as well as, the desires of both the parent and the teenager.  Make a plan for when trust is broken, so that it can be restored allowing the relationship between parent and teenager to grow.  Agree together ahead of time how to handle the unexpected events. 

“Your teen’s personality can play a large part of how they respond to certain situations. Some are sensitive and appear not to react outwardly.  But that doesn’t mean a thing. Inwardly they could be screaming at you.  Some teens are passionately vocal.  They are very certain you know exactly how they feel.  They all deserve our respect and guidance.  Reacting is easy, responding isn’t.  Responding shows your teen that you love them enough to stop for a moment and make sure what you are saying or doing is based on truth and not emotion.  Reacting can be a really selfish act.  We want to get our point across at all costs.  Sometimes the cost is just a little too high.  It can cost the trust our teens have in us.  Can your teen trust that you will respond and not react to any given situation.  Have the courage to ask your teen if you respond or react and then give them permission to tell you how they wish you would handle these situations.  It takes a brave and humble parent to realize that before we can teach our teens this concept maybe we should learn it for ourselves!” (by ParentMinistry.net)

For some of us resolving conflict in a healthy way is difficult because of our own baggage growing up.  Perhaps you were raised in a home that had a “take no prisoners” mentality when it came to conflict.  Win at all costs was the name of the game.  You learned early on that your job was to watch your own back, defend yourself, and never back down… But if you are willing to develop new habits and value loving more than being declared right, then your whole family wins!!

**If you are interested in my personal four-hour training of the ‘10 Things YOU Should Know About Teens & Tweens‘ please e-mail me for a FREE copy of the manuel and video link!!

**Follow Jeff, also known as “surgeberg” on: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

Really… a light switch!

Today I had some work to finish up so I brought my food into my classroom so I could work and eat over my lunch. A few minutes into my break the lights when out. No, no one came in and shut them off, they are on a motion/timer. Thus if there’s no movement for about 60 seconds they shut off. Of course, I waved my arms and got them to switch back on and then as soon as I got refocused they shut off again.

Some of the time I tried to tough it out and let my eyes adjust and work in the dark but then someone came by and said, “what are you doing in the dark!”

The craziest thing was that after 30+ minutes of this, I found myself holding a big piece of paper in my opposite hand and occasionally waving it as I tried to work with my free hand so as not to be in the dark yet again. I even spent some of my time trying to think through how I could hang something in front of the sensor to simulate movement.

It wasn’t until after lunch and my class returning that it hit me… why!? Why did I waste an entire hour trying to make it work. In fact, every time the light would go out I would cuss under my breath and yet I stayed. I stayed in a situation that I KNEW would set me off. I wasted time trying to “fix” a problem that is actually NOT a problem but yet working exactly how it’s supposed to… just not for what I WANTED. I even found little ways to make it miserably through it… pridefully! Honestly, waving the paper still didn’t solve the issue, it simply added more to my plate and caused more distraction from my actual project.

• How many hours have I wasted trying to make tools/skills work that were never meant to be used in that way in the first place!?
• How many relationships have I fought for, grieved for, allowed to take countless time “making it work” because I believed we’re all supposed to get along!?
• How many situations do I sit in KNOWING they will only cause more work, stress and anger but I try to muscle through because of pride or because I don’t want to do the work to move on!?
• How many habits do I keep that only add more work and not helping me live out my passions, focus, PURPOSE!?

Still learning and growing…

– Surge

#KeepMovingForward

The DDW List…

1000 hours of Community Service

Adopt

Attend a Dallas FB Game

Attend a Murder Mystery Dinner

Backpack Scotland

Backpack the Grand Canyon

Barefoot ski

Be on a TV show (Reality)

Be on the Tonight Show

Be on TV

Become a Certified Teacher/Professor

Become a Police Officer

Become an expert marksman

Become an honorary Spartan

Blow Glass

Build a Fort/Treehouse

Build a log cabin

Build an Igloo

Carve a canoe out of a tree/log

Catch a snowflake on your tongue

Chase a tornado

Climb a major mountain

Come up in the St Louis Arch

Compete in a prof. sport

Compete in the Scottish Games

Complete a triathlon

Cowboy a cattle drive

Create a Website

Develop a community garden

Disciple 12 people

Do a barrel roll in a Kayak

Do a pushup on the Four Corners Monument

Do a stunt for a scene in a movie

Do the Color Run

Dog sledding in Alaska (Iditarod)

Donate Blood

Drink a Beer at Oktoberfest

Drive a Lamborghini

Drive in a demolition derby

Drive over a 100 mph

Drive Route 66 (Chicago to LA)

Drive swamp craft (hover craft)

Drive-In Movie

Earn a Blackbelt in a Martial Art

Earn multiple Graduate Degrees

Eat at a 5-Star Restaurant

Eat Black Broth/Soup

Eat Chinese leftovers for breakfast

Eat Haggis

Experience no gravity

Fast for 40 days

Fight a pro fighter/MMA

Fill up a Passport

Find a German Castle with BERG on it

Finish a Marathon (Spartan Beast)

Fire walk

Float in the Dead Sea

Fly a plane

Fly far way to just eat

Fly First Class

Forge a blade

Get into the Guinness book of WR

Get Lost in a Corn Maze

Get out of a ticket

Give to a Charity… Anonymously

Go Cliff Diving

Go Geocaching (Find over 100 places/things)

Go off roading

Go on a 1,000 mile bicycle ride

Go on a Cruise

Go on a Police Patrol

Go on a Road Trip flipping a coin

Go Sailing

Go Sky Diving

Go Spelunking

Go to a Drive-In Movie

Go to a Movie Premier Dressed-Up

Go to random house & eat with them

Grow a Garden

Happily Married (Be a Great Dad)

Have a recognized cattle brand

Hike the Appalachian Trail

Hike to the top of the Wallace Monument

Hot Air Balloon ride

Ice skate on a pond

Invent and patent something

Learn 3 instruments

Learn 3 languages

Learn Archery

Learn Car Maintenance (Change Oil, Brakes, etc.)

Learn to Juggle

Learn to Play Chess

Learn Yoga

Light a match with a .22 shot

Make a delivery in a semi truck

Make an Arrest

Make My Kids Smile!

Meet a president

Meet Royalty

Mine a diamond or gold

Own a bald eagle

Own a Hoplon

Own a Kilt

Own a yellow Jeep Wrangler

Participate in some LARPing

Perform a Wedding

Plant a Tree

Play College Football

Play in prof. poker tournament

Play organized rugby

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Publish something

Put “$100 on black”

Read Bible cover to cover

Research my Family Tree

Ride a Bull

Ride a Camel in the Desert

Ride a fire truck to a fire

Ride a horse bareback

Ride a Mechanical Bull

Ride a Seqway

Ride in a helicopter

Ride in a Limo

Ride the top 10 Roller coasters

Run a half-marathon

Run for mayor/political office

Run the “Rocky steps”

Run the field at Dallas stadium (Stand on the star)

Run with the Bulls (Spain)

Save a life

Scuba Diving in Hawaii

See a Aztec or Mayan Temple

See a Lunar Eclipse

See an active Volcano

See Big Ben

See London Bridge

See Mount Everest

See Mount Rushmore

See Niagara Falls

See the Changing of the Guard

See the Empire State Building

See the Golden Gate Bridge

See the Harbor of Rio de Janeiro

See the Northern Lights

See the Parthenon

See the Sistine Chapel

See the Statue of Liberty (Ellis Island)

See the Taj Mahal

See U2 Live (front row)

Sell a House for a Profit

Serve on a jury

Shake Chuck Norris’ Hand

Shoot a quarter from 100 yards

Shower in a Waterfall

Sing for a famous person

Sing in a Cathedral

Sing Karaoke

Skinny Dipping in the ocean

Skip School

Sleep in a Castle

Smoke a Cuban Cigar

Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef

Solve a Rubik’s Cube

Spend 30 days off the grid

Spend the night in Beverly Hills

Squat 600/Bench 400/Run under 5

Stand on the Equator

Start a Company

Stay in Walmart for 3-Days

Stay overnight in a haunted house

Swing on a vine in an African jungle

Take a stranger to dinner

Travel to the coast on $20

Tropical Snorkeling

Visit a military facility

Visit all 50 states (Alaska) w/ the Kids

Visit all 7 continents (Set foot on Antarctica)

Visit an Orphanage

Visit Battle of Thermopylae monument

Visit Disney Land

Visit Disney World

Visit Israel – Jerusalem (Walk the Via Dolorosa)

Visit New Zealand

Visit Stonehenge

Visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx

Visit Times Square at Night

Visit Washington DC (important monuments)

Visit Yellowstone National Park

Walk in the Colosseum

Walk on the Hoover Dam

Walk on top a moving train

Walk the Great Wall of China

Wash Dishes to cover your bill

Watch all 100 AFI Films

Watch all best picture winners

Watch SNL live

Wear a Dallas Cowboy Super Bowl Ring

White water raft

Write a Book

Ten Lessons from Swimming at 5am

So over the past several weeks I have been trying a new routine, complete with getting it all kicked off with a wake-up alarm of 5AM.  This is quite a new thing for me!  I’m guessing that if you do in fact know me, and have seen my early morning posts lately, you just assumed I was still awake from the previous evening.  Nope friends, I have been getting up and heading to the gym for a workout.  Given the fact that I am extremely not used to getting up that early I have found it best to do laps in the pool.  I have found it far more difficult to go back to sleep under the water!  Though this, in and of itself, is a mighty great lesson it is merely just the beginning.

Here are my ‘Ten Lessons I’ve Learned from Swimming at Five AM’:

10) All pools are not created equal… At the gym I workout at, there are multiple pools.  Some are inside, others are outside but though they all have water they are not the same.  The outside is often far colder than the others, even more interesting is that it is longer as well.  I didn’t really realize this until I thought I was shattering my time from the day before (times compared to the longer pool).  Though I love thinking I’m a super swimmer in the smaller pool, I find true peace and solace from taking the plunge and enjoying the deafening quiet of the outside large pool.

9) Most businesses are not open yet so plan ahead for breakfast… We all know that businesses have hours and that we should always plan for the day BUT how many of us actually do?  My morning swim has caused growth far beyond simply going to the gym.  Instead, it has forced an entire lifestyle change to take place.  Each night before bed I lay out my clothes, pack my workout bag, pre-prep an easy breakfast meal and even place my toothbrush and toothpaste by the kitchen sink.  The goal is to not only get out of the door but to do it without waking everyone else up.  What’s crazier still… Is the amount of time I have “found” from executing a very planned out day (More on this in the future)!

8) No matter how much you plan sometimes things just won’t go your way… One morning after finishing my laps in a very cold pool I decided I needed to take a few minutes and get some hot tub time.  Unfortunately the hot tub was closed, saddened but not defeated I went to the showers only to find the soap dispenser was completely empty and don’t get me started about the used bandaid on the floor.  Oh yeah!  I was frustrated but still had the entire day ahead of me.  I once heard a speaker say: “Have you really had a bad day or did you just have a bad couple minutes that you’ve milked the entire day?”

7) You have to stay in your lane… Apparently, like many situations in life: standing on the left side of a walk way at the airport, leaving at least one empty urinal in between you and the other guest or that the toilet paper goes over the top not under… these and “stay in your own lane” are apparently very serious rules we must live by to keep all of us civilized!  In related new: You are not being clever if you try and pass everyone waiting in a line for the stoplight by using the shoulder only to cut in with your fast beating blinker at the last second.

6) Don’t be intimidated by others… Fact, there will always be someone better than you at something.  This is double true when you are taking on a new hobby, you just don’t have the experience (or cool gear) yet!  Though I do not require the swimming cap, mirrored goggles or super towel that could, if necessary, absorb all the water in the pool… I am however on the look out for a swimsuit that will tie just a little tighter while moving.  Though those folks look like experts, don’t get caught up in it and just get in and get started!

5) Learning the right ‘How’ can make it a whole lot easier… What I love about this lesson is the fact that if you apply the previous lesson (don’t be intimidated by others) you will have earn some respect, or pity, from others and they will jump at the chance to help.  Though I had only swam a couple lengths, apparently others noticed when I was hyperventilating at the edge of the pool.  Out of shape…Yes but that wasn’t the whole story as they pointed out.  I was simply wasting some of the motion of my arms and not being steady and true with my legs.  Sure enough, just a few lengths later and I had found my glide.

4) Find your sweet spot… Too far to the right and your arms scrape the sides, too far to the left and you get tangled up in the ropes.  However, if you can focus on the painted line below the water, keep an even glide, you will begin to really not only make the distance but do it with far more speed and comfort.

3) Remembering the ‘Why’ is the only thing that will keep you going… As I recall, it was only days two, three, five, six, nine, ten, etc. that I had problems wanting to get up and get started.  This is a lesson I know I do not have to sell to you yet probably one of the most important.  If you don’t continue to remind yourself of the why, you will never find the reasons to keep going and make a difference.  Whether its working out, eating right or even making your marriage work, you must find ways to help yourself remember why you started!

2) Sometimes you just have to jump in… Some mornings just don’t go as planned: you’ll hit the snooze one too many times, you’ll have forgot your goggles, there are too many people in the pool, the water is just too cold, etc.  That’s resistance and rest assured if it has found you, you’re doing the right thing… Jump in, try and stay positive and just KEEP MOVING FORWARD!!

1) You will never know until you try it… I do not recommend this in all walks of life: singing through all of the verses in “this is the song that never ends”, painting your body gold, smoking crack or googling “Find Chuck Norris” (okay, maybe you should do that last one).  I do, however, think all of us should have a list of things we want to do before we die.  I call mine the DDW list (Don’t Die Wonderin’).  No, swimming at five was not and is not on the list… being in the best shape of my life (before my fortieth birthday), being present as a great father and being a better husband than the man my wife married is.  I didn’t know swimming at five in the morning would bring other goals to fruition but here we are… killing it!

There are many more lessons I’ve learned from swimming at five but they are things only you can understand if you choose to experience them for yourself.  Is this your moment?  Have you been making excuses?  Bottom line, some times it’s as simple as getting up, getting dressed and jumping in!  Try something new this week and let’s change our lives and this world together.  Looking forward to seeing  you out there, just make sure you stay in your own lane!