Write it Down

I enrolled in college as a part-time student in 2005. I was 24 years old. 

The week before classes I got my textbooks.

Also, for the first time since high school, I got a planner.

And, with my rediscovered agenda appreciation, I got back into making lists.

From life to school, I’d write down many of the day-to-day “to-do’s” that I wanted or needed to accomplish.

Cross it Off

I attended college because I wanted a career doing public speaking.

One September weekend, while working for the athletic department, I assisted the public address announcer during a football game.

That same day the volleyball team had a game and their announcer had an emergency.

As I worked the football game I was asked if I wanted to fill in for the volleyball announcer.

It caught me off guard but I remembered a conversation I’d had a week earlier with my academic advisor:

“Take advantage of every opportunity.”

That’s what he told me. And that’s what I did.

But where did that confidence come from?

It was probably more about ambition, but it still took confidence to say yes.

Personally, I think that it came from months of following through with my “to-do” list.

The confidence that came from executing the “small steps” provided the confidence to take bigger ones.

And that’s what inspired the A.B.C. acronym.

Accomplishments Build Confidence

When I think of this phrase one of the first things that comes to mind is making my bed.

I enjoy making my bed because it’s a great way to start the day.

Another great way to start the day is with a cold shower. I began doing them this year.

I appreciate accomplishing things that we want to accomplish, but I think the best accomplishments are the things we don’t want to do.

For example, I hate pull-ups. I hate them more than cold showers.

Actually, I’ve come to enjoy cold showers – sometimes.

But pull-ups, I hate pull-ups.

They’re kind of like running into the wind. They’re challenging.

Also, perspective is priceless and a challenge is an opportunity.

Yes, it’s going to be hard, but like Tom Hanks says at the end of A League of Their Own, “The hard is what makes it great.”

I’m sure the word “pull-ups” is written in those old agendas.

Respect Your Gift

We respect our gifts by taking care of our mental health.

And we take care of our mental health with wellness: the active pursuit of good health.

Organization, exercise, cold exposure…

Those are things that help us take care.

They’re small steps.

Small steps are accomplishments.

And accomplishments build confidence.

From enhancing lives to saving them… The taking care that helps us battle life’s challenges is the same taking care that helps us perform at a “big league” level. 

Mental health is foundational and we build that foundation with the active pursuit of good health.

So, keep building.

Small steps. Great distances.℠

You know… Let’s go!℠