Fitness Philosopher

Going Against the Grain.

Whether this was written by George Carlin or not, I love the message.

Paradox of Our Time
By George Carlin?

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. . .
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May we all live fulfilling lives because we sidestep these trends. . .

Picture Perfect Weight

Consider this scenario. . .

You dedicate 12 weeks to improving your nutrition habits, managing your stress and training hard . . . and the results are in:

• The hypertension and high cholesterol you had?  Gone.
• Your energy levels are consistently through the roof.
• You sleep better.
• You look refreshed, awake, younger.
• You can see a tangible improvement in your physique and the clothes that once tightly clung to you are falling off.
• Your friends and family can't take their eyes off you and are amazed at the transformation you've made.
• You never imagined that you could sustain a healthy lifestyle for 12 weeks, let alone achieve it. . .  and then have a desire to maintain it.
• You are living life to the fullest and filled with happiness.
• You LOVE the way you look.

Can you picture this?  Do you have this image burned into your mind?

Now, you step on the scale in front of you for the big weigh in.  You look down with anticipation and discover. . . that you weigh 2 pounds more than when you started.

Does that change anything?

Last One Standing.

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." -- Vince Lombardi

My daughter Grace has been standing for a few weeks and is now learning to cruise.  During an attempt yesterday, she fell on her face.

Undeterred (after a frustrated cry or two), she stood back up, took a small step and. . . landed on her butt.

And with this experience, she illustrated a point that all of us would do well to remember:

1. Have no fear.
2. Push your limits.
3. If you fall (fail), stand back up, brush yourself off and try again -- using the wisdom from your fall to take you further than before.

Failure is an essential part of life.  Embrace it.  After all, if you don't land on your butt a few times, you won't know how to avoid it in the future.

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"It is a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much oftener succeed through failures. Precept, study, advice, and example could never have taught them so well as failure has done." -- Samuel Smiles

How Much Do You REALLY Know?

Finding a way to put today's message into words was challenging.  Then I remembered this scene from Good Will Hunting:

The lesson Sean conveys to Will is powerful, but the emotions generated in the way he conveys it is even moreso.  I wonder if the message would've resonated the same if it had been left only to written word.

Which is exactly the point of what I wanted to share with you (and remind myself of) . . . 

Book smart is one thing.  Knowledge through experience is something else.

The technical knowledge we gather from books is critical -- without it, it's hard to build understanding about this life we're trying to be a part of.  But if we limit our knowledge to books - even if we've read every piece of material that exists on a topic; even if it's the most in-depth knowledge that written word can share - do we really know as much as we think?

One of the greatest challenges we face is going beyond our mind and feeling life as we live it.  Feeling requires and openness to being vulnerable.  Being vulnerable pushes you to face your fears. . . and defeat them.

Make an effort to TOUCH, SMELL, TASTE, HEAR and SEE all that life has to offer.  It's not easy, but a concerted effort to do so can save you from going through life without "having the faintest idea of what you're talking about."

A Bit of Father's Day Wisdom.

You've probably noticed that I've got a soft spot for inspirational quotes.  So, as we recognize this Father's Day, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites from H. Jackson Brown's A Father's Book of Wisdom.

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone else expects of you.  Never excuse yourself. -- Henry Ward Beecher

Challenges can be stepping stones or stumbling blocks.  It's just a matter of how you view them. -- Unknown

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.  Live your life in such a manner that when you die the world cries and you rejoice. -- Old Indian saying

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear.  -- Mark Twain

Don't be afraid to take big steps.  You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps. -- David Lloyd George

What matters is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.  -- Coach Bear Bryant

It's not how far you fall, but how high you bounce.  -- Dad

There is no experience better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up. -- John Andrew Holmer

Let your policy be quality.  -- Dad

There is no future in any job.  The future lies in the man who holds the job. -- George Crane

Never, never, never, never give up.  -- Winston Churchill

The Concept of "BEING."

"You only live once -- but if you work it right, once is enough." - Joe E. Lewis ________________________________

It's 7:30 pm on Friday and I'm traveling uptown on the subway, reflecting on my day . . .

Wishing I wasn't getting home so late. 

Hoping to see my daughter, smiling and awake, and regretting that I hadn't seen her all day.

Lamenting about not being productive enough in my free time.

And then I snapped out of it.  Why was I so discontent?  Why wasn't I simply accepting my day as it unfolded?  What was I trying to get back? 

And what was I losing as I spent my time thinking about it? 

What was I losing?!?!?  I was losing right now.  I was missing out on being in the moment.  I was missing out on truly living.

What does this have to do with training? 

Everything.

It has as much to do with training as it does with everyday life.

When you focus on letting yourself "be," there's no time for fear, contemplation, regret, excessive analysis. . . to get in the way of a pure, unadulterated, full-blown effort and experience.  (An experience that you can now gloriously reflect on.)

When you truly live in the moment and let yourself simply "be," you free yourself up to be the best you can be. . . giving yourself the opportunity to reach your highest potential.

How to Win THE Race.

THE Race <===> Your fitness journey <===> Your life journey.

"Slow and steady" wins it. . . isn't that what we learned from The Tortoise and The Hare?
______________________

I appreciate your stance as it pertains to your training progress.  You want results, and you want them as efficiently as possible.  That's great!  I want you to reach your goals efficiently (and safely and quickly) too!

But efficient doesn't necessarily mean tomorrow,

or next week,

or next month,

or even six months from now -- especially if your physical journey is starting from a place of significant disadvantage.

Maybe you're a recovering from a serious injury. . . or 15 years of anorexia. . . or 7 years of steadily increasing obesity. . . or 20 years of mental self-abuse where you've struggled to see yourself for the amazing person you are.

And recovering the "you" that you really want to see is going to take hard work and time, simply because years of damage inflicted on the body can't be completely rehabilitated overnight.

The way to get through - and win - this race? 

• Learn the principles required for change and make an honest, diligent effort at applying them.
• Develop patience.  Develop fortitude.  Develop trust in the process.  Understand that if you're applying a sound plan, positive changes are consistently unfolding -- many are just at the microscale level and not readily visible or easily felt.
• Learn to hear your body and adjust your training and nutrition according to your specific needs. 
• Most importantly, give the plan time to work.  It will work, if you just give it time.

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Time allows for absorption, understanding, application and wisdom. . . and with these, the ability to cultivate extraordinary results that you can appreciate and maintain for a lifetime.

Critical Thinking.

Anybody undertaking a fitness program who thinks that their state of mind is not a critical factor in their success. . .
           . . . needs to have their head examined.

Anybody that's in denial about the importance of emotional health in obtaining positive training results. . .
            . . . needs to look objectively into their heart and learn the truth.

Anybody who thinks that overall health isn't the lasting force behind getting and maintaining their ideal body. . .
            . . . needs to consult a knowledgeable healthcare practitioner and fitness professional.

And anybody can go on denying the above statements all they want. . . but in the end, no matter what "safety zone" has been created to shelter oneself from the realities of the world, the truth will always show itself in the end.

Judgement Call.

When you see an overweight, if not obese, individual exercising, what's your first impression of that person?

And your first impression of that "vision of physical fitness" across the floor?

Did you ever stop to think that those first impressions could be completely inaccurate?

That person you see working diligently to burn bodyfat may not be as unhealthy/unmotivated/"unathletic" as you think.  Maybe their lack of nutritional discipline is their only (albeit significant) concern.

That Greek God(dess)?  May look great on the surface, yet be the healthy equivalent of a ticking time bomb underneath.

"Never judge a book by it's cover" couldn't ring more true here.  Be careful about under/overestimating your level of fitness and health based on what you see in the mirror.

(Re)Learning Essentials Through the Eyes of an Infant

It's incredible how much insight you can gain while observing somebody in their earliest stages of life outside the womb.  Beautiful.  Vulnerable.  Uninhibited.  These are the three words that come to mind as I watch my daughter Grace while she interacts with the world around her.

Amazing also comes to mind.  Amazing because here I sit, age 35, and she, at 4 months old, is rejuvenating wisdom and insight that's been taken for granted, if not forgotten.  Frankly, it's insight that all adults would be wise to acknowledge regularly, especially when pursuing enhanced fitness.

And those insights would be?

1.  Breathe.  Belly breathe, that is.  Infants do it automatically, we tend to forget after years of trying to suck in the gut to show off that 6-pack.  It's time to reverse the trend.  Focused, deep diaphragmatic breaths will not only provide a calming effect, but it will go a long way toward releasing any tension in your neck and shoulder musculature (thus promoting neck, shoulder and back health).

2.  Eat.  And eat smart.  Infants ask for and receive the perfect food (Mommy's milk) - lots of it - and they stop eating when they're full.  Too often, adults claiming that they're seeking better health either forget to eat, choose not to eat, eat poor quality food and/or eat too much.  I'm sure I've read this somewhere . . . positive results might just come easier if you make a conscious effort to feed regularly on high quality foods.

3.  Sleep.  Infants will sleep up to 18 hours per day.  Most adults should sleep at least 8. . .  and most fail to do so.  If you want to make significant, timely progress, adequate rest and recovery is a must.  So, stop with the all-nighters already and get some sleep!

4.  Work hard, without reservation.  Infants do this naturally, whether they're trying to hold the head up, roll over, crawl or. . . fill their diaper.  Nothing gets in a baby's way -- if she's got a task to perform, she'll go at it, undeterred, until she finishes.  It's safe to say that if you exhibit the same fearless determination when trying to reach your goals, there's a high probability that you'll succeed.

5.  Live, for the sake of living -- and enjoy every moment of it.  I see my daughter behaving in a way that almost seems reflexive.  She's hungry, she cries.  Tired?  She cries.  Uncomfortable?  She cries.  Sick?  Surprise! She cries.  Content?  She lays there with an innocent look on her face or smiles at everything around her.  She may not be laying there thinking, "I'm going to behave this way if that happens," but the point is, she acts as if she does.  She knows what she needs and she doesn't ignore/deny her senses.  She lives in, and gets the most out of, each moment.  Wouldn't you be better off if you did the same?
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All too often, we deny ourselves -- or worse, become unaware -- as we age.  We become reserved.  Inhibited.  Self-conscious.  Afraid of vulnerability.  We "forget" to breathe, eat well and get adequate rest.  Essentially, we become fearful/lose sight of what's natural, of what was instinctual to us at the earliest moments of our lives -- to the detriment of our health and well-being.  Maybe we could prevent it, if we took the time to see the world through the eyes of an infant. . .

Message From My Unborn Child.

I'm going to be a father.

"Wow!"
"Exciting!"
"Surreal!"

I know, tell me about it.  I can't believe it myself.  What an emotional journey.  And I'm getting to experience all of those "you'll never fully understand these feelings until you're a parent" feelings for the first time.  It's nice to finally understand what parents have been talking about over the last 16 years of my adult life. . .  but I digress.

Leave it to my unborn child, womb age 19 weeks, to leave me a message after the completion of our first sonogram.  (Did I mention yet that that was amazing?  The child is well developed (BIG feet!) and has a strong heart -- 154 beats per minute of flawless pumping action!. . . but I digress again.)

My wife and I had just finished our sonogram when I turned around to see this on the wall:

Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become character.
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

Truer words may never been spoken by a tinier person, regarding life or, of course, personal training.    What's your mindset as you begin your fitness program? 
Have your thoughts become tangible words (written or spoken) that you can look at/listen to and use as motivation to reach your desired outcome?
Have you taken action, and given those actions time to develop into lifelong habits that will provide a healthy body and strong character?
Heed the advice of my unborn child, and commit to building a physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually stronger you -- today.

Thou Shalt STEAL (And Be Proud of It)

"Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom." -- Proverbs 4:7

Now, please be advised that the above title is only meant to get your attention.  I do not condone stealing in any way, shape or form.  No holding up banks.  No taking candy off the shelves and secretly tucking it away.  And definitely no stealing somebody's words/ideas and claiming them as your own. . .

So, what's with "Thou Shalt STEAL"?

Replace "STEAL" with "learn," "acquire," "obtain," "sponge," "tap into" or "fill your cup".  The idea is, use all resources available to learn as much as you can, to become the finest you can be in your profession of choice (strength and conditioning, in this case).  Who are we kidding?  We surely don't know everything.  And the trainers who we think know everything, didn't always.  We've got to get our information from somewhere.  And what we learn won't just come into our minds as an epiphany, it's got to come from a source.  That source is more than likely going to be another human being -- whether it be a college professor, a mentor or our peers in the fitness industry.

We've got to lose any defensive feelings we experience when we see information that we don't initially agree with and denounce it as pure BS.

We've got to lose our feelings of insecurity when we meet other professionals who seem to know more than we do, where we wonder, "why do they know all of this information and I don't?"

In other words, we've got to lose our egos and be open to absorbing every bit of information that's out there, no matter what the source.

(Side note -- Of course, this doesn't mean that we lose our sense of reasoning of and logic.  There is a lot of lousy information out there mixed in with the good.  But just as you can't denounce things that you don't initially agree with, you shouldn't just accept the information that's thrown at you as gospel.  Apply your brain power to each scenario you face/each piece of data you obtain.  Test the new information against the "foundations" that you know exist (if you don't know them, learn those first. . . :) ).  And accept it/deny it as you develop and share your philosophy.)

I think there's a fear that exists amongst younger trainers, i.e. "I don't want to learn from/talk to/ support X trainer" because it's admitting that he/she might know more than me, that he/she might be better than me.  Admitting that you don't have all the answers, that you seek knowledge from your peers is not a sign of weakness or lack of intelligence.  On the contrary, it's indicative of great strength, confidence and intelligence because you're doing everything you can to make yourself better.

What is one of the common denominators of the most prolific, well-respected fitness professionals?  They openly talk about how much they seek out and learn from the experts.  They aren't above gathering information from professionals who may even be their direct competition for business.  They see that bettering themselves for common good, for a united purpose, is just as (if not more) important as the business side of things.

And for many of them, it wasn't always that way.  A few weeks ago, I was at a Perform Better Seminar in Boston when a highly recognized, respected trainer told me, "I've learned more from ages 40-47 than I did from 22-40."  This revelation came amidst the other oft uttered phrase of that day, "The more I learn, the less I know."

Look, our journey along the path of intellectual growth takes us through some pretty common stages:

1. When we're younger, we obtain a foundation of knowledge and think we have all the answers.  Anybody else with contradictory opinions is wrong.
2. We happen to keep learning (if we're lucky) and realize we didn't know as much as we thought.
3. We become walking encyclopedias of theoretical and applied knowledge (if we're lucky), but feel more so like we know nothing, because "there's so damn much to learn." (As if we've lost sight of our foundational knowledge and now wonder, "Which is my head, which is my ass?")
4. Once again, we stand firmly on our foundation of knowledge with the wisdom to be open to ideas, and the ability to find common ground amidst differing opinions and philosophies.
   

This message really comes from the heart, because I used to be that trainer who consistently felt insecure around my competition.  I wanted to be known as one of "the best" trainers around and I wanted others to come to me -- there was no way I was going to have to ask a peer of mine for advice.  Thankfully, I've become wiser with age.  I claw my way into seminars to learn from "experts" in my field.  I make a point to ask fellow trainers (more, less and/or equally experienced) their approaches to various topics.  I have learned more in the last 5 years, than I had in the 12 years prior and, because of that, I know less now than I did before. . .  and becoming a wiser, more polished practitioner every day.

I wish the same for you, as you grow in your career.  Dig in.  Get lost in all the theory and practical experience. . . and then find your way out of it again.  Fearlessly build on your foundation of knowledge.  Just don't forget to give proper recognition to those individuals who helped you along the way.

Who Are You?

When I was little, I had this poster consisting of 3 photographed chimps and a brilliant piece of writing.  The prose went something like this:

"There are 3 kinds of people:

Those who make things happen.  Those who watch things happen. . .

And those who wonder, "what happened?"

When it comes to improving your nutrition habits or beginning your strength training program, what person are you?  Are you the individual that confronts your daily obstacles, makes a decision to change and stops at nothing to make your dreams and goals a reality?  Are you the person that talks a hell of a game, but doesn't have the courage or drive to put your plans into action?  Or are you the person that just coasts through life, unconscious, and then wakes up one day -- 30 years later -- wondering, "Where's my life gone?  Where did healthy, fit body go?" i.e. What happened?

It's easy to fall into the daily routine of life, to get caught up in frivolous details, to become "unconscious" and forget how to take control of our well-being.  It's easy to fall into traps and start thinking, "I can't do this because. . . " or "I'm too busy to fit this into my schedule." or "It takes too much effort to change. . . "

These are only weak excuses.  Crutches that enable us to avoid reality.  We are not dead leaves blowing in the wind, helpless to control our destiny.  Yes, we deal with innumerable events that are out of our control; however, we are always in control of the decisions we make in response to the events that unfold in front of us.

Stop lamenting the past -- you can't get it back.  Stop worrying about the future.  It hasn't happened yet.  Become fully aware of NOW, this very second.  Make proactive decisions and take action now.  (Don't know how to take action?  Ask questions, do some research, write me and allow me to assist you. . . .)  Regarding your health, fitness and nutrition, be the person that takes control and makes things happen, and recognize the great things that unfold.

My Journey to Fitness Blogdom (Part II of III)

Lesson II -- Take the time to discover the real you; FIND YOUR PURPOSE.

Setting goals is analogous to finding your purpose and it is a crucial function in any fitness endeavor.  You need to be open to your intuitions and let them assist in defining your purpose in life; let them map out a path so that you can fulfill that purpose.  In much the same way, specific goals have to be set for your fitness regimen.  It's not enough to say, "I want to be in shape" or "I want to eat better" -- not because those statements aren't meaningful, but because they're not specific enough.  Clearly specifying your goals will allow you to more effectively design a course of action that will make your journey easier and increase your chances for success.

"Find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life." 

                                                                            -- Confucius

I was a little behind schedule.  While many college students spread their wings and explore all that life has to offer, I more closely resembled a hermit.  I rarely took time to heed the wise advice of my professors and friends who suggested that I "smell the roses" and enjoy life.  Apparently, I was hell bent on doing that after I'd earned my degree -- when I was supposed to begin my career.

As I left the world of research behind, my thoughts essentially were, "I don't want to be laying in my bed when I'm 95 wondering 'what would have happened if . . .' so I'm going to try every occupation that's ever intrigued me."  My experiences included:

-- Dealing blackjack at Mystic Lake Casino/Hotel
-- Temping for Lab Support (trying science in the corporate setting)
-- Bartending
-- Modeling
-- Bouncing

Throughout this adventure, I also focused on improving my level of fitness.  I'd always been around sports and competition, but weight training hadn't ever become a consistent habit . . . and developing that habit proved difficult.  I'd start for 1-3 months and fall off schedule.  Then, when consistent training wasn't an issue, I limited my progress with substandard nutrition and inadequate rest.  Frankly, I dealt with many of the same obstacles that my clients and countless others have faced. . . until my mindset changed and I matured enough to clearly define my goals and follow through with them.

And with this improved mindset, my expedition lead to the discovery of my soul's purpose -- during a workout, none-the-less.  My self-esteem had greatly improved as my body transformed and started to function better than it ever had.  I felt great, like I was becoming the person I'd always wanted to be, and realized that I could take this newfound love for training and use it to better the lives of others. 
"This is it," I thought, "I'm going to be a fitness professional."

I overcame my fears and took a risk to explore my deepest desires;  leaving me open to find my purpose.  I embarked on a career that perfectly blended my educational background with my desire to help people.  Not only that, but it pushed me to live to my highest ideals, to lead by example and practice the lifestyle that I teach . . . to be the same person publicly and privately.  This decision gave me plenty of opportunity for self-improvement while enabling me to bring people health and keep them OUT of hospitals.  As far as I was concerned, I'd found the perfect career; and from here, the future would only get brighter. 

My Journey to Fitness Blogdom (Part I of III)

Lesson I.  Self-Esteem and Courage -- they're important qualities, so cultivate them.

It's common for somebody embarking on a new fitness program to view it in terms of strength training and nutrition -- obviously, two extremely important components to consider.  You have to train smart and train with intensity.  You absolutely must have a balanced nutrition plan.  But taking on this, or any other lifestyle also requires the presence of intangibles -- work ethic, self-esteem, courage, fortitude, persistence.  These qualities often provide the difference between fizzling out and long term success in any venture.  Cultivate your inner strength so that you can capitalize on your limitless potential.

I remember the moment as if it happened 5 minutes ago.  May 1998.  A crisp, clear Thursday morning and I opened my eyes to the sun's rays, warmly shining directly onto my face.  The room was silent and still, and that radiant light . . . it felt like a messenger delivering me an epiphany.  And suddenly, in that moment everything became clear, a wave of calm washed over me and I felt a tremendous burden lift from my shoulders.  I'd made my decision.

Let's backtrack a bit.  I graduated from St. Cloud State University in May of 1996 and with that came a big decision -- MD, PhD or both?  I'd wanted to be an MD at a very early age, but that career choice wavered on and off during my undergraduate studies -- research was something I'd really gotten into.  Of course, I wasn't sure if I wanted to jump right into 5+ more years of school to earn the doctorate either.  So I did the next best thing -- I applied for a research position at the University of Minnesota and worked for two years in the fields of membrane biochemistry (with W.G. Wood, PhD) and immunology (with Y. Shimizu, PhD).  It was my way of treading water;  I could stay active with my science education and explore career possibilities without prematurely committing to a long term program.

Of course, time moved on and further choices had to be made.  I couldn't "tread water" forever!  So, I took a PhD course as an extension student.  I formally applied to the U of Minnesota's graduate program in Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology.  Research continued.  And then I got accepted into the PhD program.  All I had to do was say "yes."  To the outside observer, everything was going my way as I pursued my childhood career ambitions in the sciences.  On the inside, I was agonizing over my choices and couldn't make a firm decision.  Although working in the lab had been fulfilling, I wasn't completely convinced that a lifetime of doing it was for me.  And I still wasn't sold on pursuing medical school either.  The problem was that I'd told people all my life that I was going to be a doctor. . .  and now I was hung up on the notion that I'd be "letting everybody down" if I didn't follow through on my lifelong declarations.

That May morning, with the sun shining down on me, became a major turning point in my life. . . a defining moment when I recognized the need to live my life on my terms, to believe in myself and to face life's path with courage.

I finally acknowledged that, while my love for science was genuine, I was pursuing a professional degree more because I felt like I owed it to others -- I didn't want to go back on my word.  Furthermore, I was going after the titles associated with my studies because I felt they would bring me recognition and respect; i.e. they would validate me.  Instead of making life choices based on my own internal demands, I was doing it for everybody else and for all the wrong reasons.  No more.

I took ownership of my life.  I made a commitment to improving my self-esteem.  I recognized that nobody else was going to walk in my shoes, so it was most important that I find what I wanted -- because I had to live with it for the rest of my life.  I also recognized that I didn't need titles for people to see my worth.  If I was intelligent, talented and a good person, people would see that, titles or not.

And my decision was made.  I thanked the University of Minnesota for their offer and respectfully declined.  I stepped away from the "comfort" of my original path with the decision to explore other options.  Scary, exciting and requiring a lot of courage.

It's easy to get caught in life.  Caught in an unrewarding job, an unsatisfying relationship, an unhealthy, unfit body -- and then keep yourself in neutral because it feels more comfortable than testing your inner strength and taking on the fear of failure or the challenge of hard work.  I say to you, take the challenge.  Believe in yourself and push your limits even when you're uncertain of the outcome.  Living with self-esteem and courage will ensure that you end up truly living.