Happy Earth Day, you deranged and delightful creature of chaos!

Today, I'm not here to babble about the usual temple rituals of iron and sweat. No, today I storm your psyche with a different beast, a wild scream from the depths of Earth.

Here is my challenge -burst out of your cages as the wild calls to you, not in timid whispers but in full-throated, savage roar.

Abandon the claustrophobic echo chambers of fluorescent-lit gyms and launch yourself into the chaos of the unknown.

Embrace the heart-thumping exhilaration of sports that claw at your very soul—tennis, golf, mountain biking, surfing, or, in my twisted adoration, the unhinged art of kiteboarding. Hell ya!

Last night, fueled by the madcap adventure of waking at 4 AM in Reston, VA, I undertook a bizarre odyssey—Uber rides, dual flights of fancy, a vehicular sprint—all to hurl myself back into the tempestuous embrace of South Padre for the ritualistic "Send It Sunday" kiteboarding session. My aerial feats weren’t record-breaking—a mere 14-foot leap over 150 feet—but gosh darn it was fun.

To the fearful neophytes trembling at the precipice of new endeavors—here is my sage advice -embrace your suckitude!

That first rep is an abomination, an affront to your very essence...

...but charge ahead, you wild thing.

Annihilate that terror, and let the first rep be a catastrophic triumph over mediocrity.

With each new attempt, you're not merely surviving; you're thriving, injecting a raucous vitality into your weary bones and soul.

And if all hope seems lost and you can't find a new sport to learn, heck, even consider the lunacy of pickleball—a lesser madness, perhaps, but a rebellion against the suffocating stillness of the un-lived life still. Hahaha.

Each new skill, each foray into the open air, is a rebellion against the mundane.

By all means continue to hoist your weights, pound the pavement, crank the rower, consume your garden of greens for micro-nutrition and pound protein, but for the love of God, inject some primal chaos into your routine with novel outdoor escapades.

Launch forth into the fray!

I know you can do it and you will thank me later.

So, what are you waiting for? Go forth and conquer!

Send it!

With mad love,
Dr. Mike
P.S. I'm dying to know—what are you lunatics are doing outside the gym to keep moving? Hit reply. Seriously, spill the bean homey!

_____________________

Mike T Nelson CISSN, CSCS, MSME, PhD
Associate Professor, Carrick Institute
Owner, Extreme Human Performance, LLC
Editorial Board Member, STRONG Fitness Mag
​​Mike T Nelson is a Ph.D. and not a physician or registered dietitian. The contents of this email should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem - nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health.

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