Plunge-worthy

As a long-time Cape Codder, I’ve grown accustomed to packing up my family and heading to the beach. What made yesterday’s excursion a bit unusual was that the January temperature was a balmy 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

It was New Year’s Day, and I was determined to flip the calendar in an emphatic fashion. This may explain how I found myself at the beach on a cool winter day wearing nothing but a pair of swim trunks and staring out at icy ocean waves. There was a nip in the air. (Two, in fact.) The sand that scorches my overly-sensitive feet every summer was now freezing them into numb, painful blocks.

I was well aware of the “Polar Plunge” – a sensational event where people of questionable judgment head to the water and immerse themselves with an icy dunk. It always seemed like fun, but I’d never actually tried it myself. I’m not about to let 2012 be a year of “what might have been” when it holds so much potential to be a year of “what got done”. I had to plunge.

Since earning the title of “Father of the Year” is not one of my 2012 goals, I issued my icy challenge to my three unfortunate children. My twelve year-old daughter and ten year-old son answered the call. My youngest daughter – clearly the brains of the operation – declined instantly. Fortunately, our faithful chocolate lab pup happily took her place.

It was time. I let out a shriek that was half adrenaline and half fear. “Let’s go!” We made a beeline for the water. The rule was simple: You had to go all in. This isn’t a year of dipping in a toe or wading in up to your waist and calling it a day. This is 2012. It’s time for us to make our stand.

I bounded into the water and dove in headfirst. A chilly rush of excitement and pain seared my brain. I attempted a stroke or two, but my normally poor aquatic skills had become even more inept. I stood up in the shallow water and threw my arms up in triumph. I felt alive. I felt renewed. I felt frozen.

I huddled with my chilly children in celebration. We toweled off and put on warm dry clothes. Our pooch went back in the icy water 10 more times, thus proving that it’s impossible to experience brain freeze when you in fact have no brain.

The adventure only lasted an instant, but the New Year was officially off with a brrrr.

This brings us to a much more important subject: Your 2012. What are you going to do to send yourself a clear message that it’s time to get to work on your goals? You have the opportunity to draw a figurative line in the sand that says, “I have a whole year to accomplish some really great things – it starts now!”

Thankfully, you don’t have to expose yourself to hypothermia to get the party started. (Exposing yourself is entirely optional in 2012.) The key is to make the mental leap to a constructive, determined mindset. You can accomplish some really amazing things in a year. Don’t let a moment of it slip away, never to return.

I want you to have a fantastic 2012. I want you to dream big dreams and set big goals for yourself. This year, I want you to be optimistic and inspired and confident and nervous and consumed and brave and energized and determined. I want you to be at your best – nothing less.

As always, you’re welcome to share your inspiring 2012 kickoff ideas, dreams, goals, or challenges with me at anytime at mattyp@goalsgonewild at facebook.com/goalsgonewild or by tweeting me @MattyPhD. We’re all in this together.

I wish you success in this New Year, and thanks so much for letting me be a small part of it!