So, tomorrow I drive to Flint, my usual 50 mile commute each way, and then from there I will go to Columbus tomorrow afternoon to meet my friend Dave Wendel and have dinner. Then, we’ll be off to find the new champions and get a chance to shake their hands, as well as a chance to squeeze a few people we already know! That’s “squeeze” as in hugs, not as in shaking them down, by the way!

Last year I flew to Columbus with my wife Ruth, and it took most of the day due to bad weather. We weren’t really wanting to fly but that was an EAS policy, and they were paying for it, so that’s what we did. This time, I’m driving. I love to drive by myself! I can listen to sports talk radio without anyone telling me to change the station or asking if I haven’t already heard a particular broadcast. Last year while driving to Kansas I actually listend to 14 hours straight of sports talk radio and never batted an eye! I can also stop whenever I feel like it.

Here’s what I’m taking on the road; several articles of workout gear, including my versagripps, a journal, a four day supply of Myoplex, Phosphagen Elite, Muscle Armor, and branch chain amino acids, all appropriately labeled. A shake cup, and a large cup as well; capsules of supplements, and of course my champion’s jacket! I already know there’s a place to work out at the hotel, and I think that there’s a possibility of getting in to the Lifetime Fitness gym there as well, for a fee of course. We’ll see. Anyway, I’m not carrying any road exercise gear such as bands or a fitness ball, but I would be if I was going where there wasn’t a gym.  I’ll also have my laptop computer so I can use the hotel wireless and give you all live updates on the guestbook regularly.  I have a camera, a Body for Life book that already is nearly filled with autographs of champions and friends who ought to be champions. I’ll add a few more this time I bet!

I’m excited to see lots of you, and I’m sorry I’ll miss some of you who won’t show for various reasons. Some of you have very good reasons and some of you are just plain fearful. You’re afraid you would look out of place, or wouldn’t know anyone, or would be the fattest person there. Or you’re afraid that you’ll make a fool of yourself. Look, I know the feeling. I hate it when I go somewhere for the very first time. The fear in the back of my mind always makes me think of 900 very good resons why I shouldn’t go there! Today, though, I know that champions take action in the face of fear. Today, I know that when I’m afraid, I must go right to the source of the fear so that it cannot defeat me. I also know that if I’m really fearful about going somewhere there’s probably a very GOOD reason why I should be GOING THERE!

Fear, for most of us, is the number one enemy! Is there anything missing in your life because you let that fear keep you from doing something you wish you had done? It’s never too late to face fear–and to get that victory. What is missing can be obtained, and what is obtained can be kept, so long as you give it away to others!