...and how to keep your head above it.
I can't get the taste of salt, algae, and really weak lime juice out of my mouth.
I swallowed a few quarts of this disgusting concoction on Tuesday afternoon while “wakeboarding.†Well, that’s what my friends called it before I strapped up and dove in. Now they call it “Let’s watch Nate act like an idiot as he swallows lake water.â€
I believe they’re trying to shorten it into an acronym.
When most people talk about wakeboarding, they say the hardest part is “getting up." This is when you’re behind the boat holding on to a handle and long rope which is attached to a high crossbeam on the boat. Your feet, of course, are in boots attached to a board.
You lean back in the water with your feet bent, your hands between your legs and yell “ready!†(Or, if you’re me, you yell “This water is freezing!â€) Once the boat accelerates, the rope tightens and it pulls you out of the water….and onto your face.
I tried it at least 10 times before giving up in favor of not being in hypothermic shock.
As I stripped out of my wetsuit on our way back to land, I had two thoughts:
1.I’m glad I tried something new
2.My friends had to beg me for weeks before I finally agreed to try wakeboarding
I like to think of myself as adventurous, but I’ve recently noticed I do quite a bit to stay in my comfort zone. It takes some cajoling and begging before I really agree to anything.
I don’t think this is necessarily a good thing.
It’s one thing to be weary. It’s another to stay in your comfort zone because you’re “too busy.â€
“Too busy†to me meant I was scared I’d screw up, get laughed at, and swallow lake water.
Well, all three happened. And it wasn’t that bad.
I got a new appreciation for a very difficult sport
I was impressed with my friends
I got a great coaching lesson on what to do next time (believe me, there will be a next time!)
I relaxed with my little brother and two friends
I got out of my head and didn’t think about the book, the launch, the clients or anything resembling business
We all have new experiences and opportunities presented to us on a daily basis. Some you can let go by. Others you need to jump on. Business opportunities, quitting your day job, trying a new sport, approaching the hot girl in the bar, trying to hit a new personal record on your deadlift, or just simply hanging out with friends you’ve been brushing off may provide you with a new direction and forward momentum.
If you can get over your ego, your insecurities, and get out of your comfort zone, you may just realize how much you’re missing.
So go ahead. Dive in.
The water’s fine.
++++++
Let me know I'm not alone. What kind of challenge, adventure, or opportunity are you stepping out of your comfort zone for?
Posted Jun 03, 2008 by Nate Green.
This entry is filed under lifestyle and inspiration.
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Comments for This Entry
I have a great opportunity next year to do a Masters of Music with a very good guitarist and pedagogue. That said, I'll be 8 hours or more from home (I'll be in Tennessee). I'll be attempting a long distance relationship with the girlfriend. I'm studying with a guy who is intimidating as hell and will force me to make changes to the way I play (and the way I've been playing for 8 years). Atthe end of the program I'll be expected to perform what amounts to a professional level recital in front of a committee who will decide if I pass or fail. The good side is that I'll be getting paid to go to school as I have an assistantship.
All in all, it's a lot of changes all at once, but it's no wakeboarding. I just hope they have a decent weight room down there.
I'm in the same boat as you, Nate – lucky to have friends whose interests are different, but complementary, to mine. One of my best friends (soon to be my best man) convinced me 10 years ago to take up rock climbing with him. Frankly, it was because I had the credit card for gear and he had the balls to do it. The first few times were frustrating, but he's a natural leader and teacher, and as we got better together, he challenged my sense of what was possible.
10 years later, and he's a certified NOLS guide, Wilderness First Responder and teaches at an outdoor education center in Colorado. I still climb - and have enjoyed some of the most beautiful scenery in North America through the hobby. I can still lock off a one-arm pullup and climb 5.11 on a good day, all thanks to his prodding. I've had the opportunity to teach many people over the years, and those first few trips with him have helped me remember how climbing looked through the eyes of a novice - new, possibly dangerous and not wholly convinced it's possible.
The friends who push us to do a little more, be a little stronger, and try a little extra are the good ones. Keep them around, and once in a while, show them something new.
On a strength training aside, one of our favorite routines while climbing was 4 pullups every minute for 20 minutes, and of course the amazingly-bad-for-the-tendons campus board:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuisoJYS0Vg
+++++
That is a sick video, Mike.
-Nate
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