why do it?

what motivates you?
what defines who you are and what you stand for?
what do you want to be when you grow up?
who do you want to be everyday?
if someone were to describe you to someone else who never met you, what would they say?
you mean you aren't getting paid for this?
is your heart in it?
are you for real?
can you make it?
are you really going to swim 32 miles?
why would you do that?

I don't have the answers to most of these questions. I ask them to myself everyday. They are hard questions and some have no logical answers. Last night I sat there fumbling for words when my father-in-law asked me one of the above questions. He didn't know it, but in essesnce he was asking me all of them. I tried to explain about everything, sponsors, the coast, proposals, swim a thons, but the words sounded foolish, as if the notion and idea that I could raise a lot of money for kids fitness was a joke. I shut up and let the conversation move on. In the end the idea made no sense to him. I would go swim 12 miles and swim everyday to prepare to swim 32 for nothing? It is funny how people react to the idea of this swim. They seem to be all in, all out, or simply it doesn't register. I am not a mountain climber. I do not have the "I swam it because it was there" mentality. I choose my challenge. This is not a race against others. It is a race against and for myself. We all have the moments in our lives where something has to give. We have to do "something". Many of us never seize what may be the one chance to do that "something". In a nutshell, that is what I am doing. In my past I have made and broken promises to myslef and to others. I have talked a big game. This time I am backing it up. How much of what we say on a daily basis can we deliver on? Many who know me have heard me talk of many things that I would like to do, restaurant ideas, quitting everything to start a new career, coaching, directing races, ironman, whatever. I truly beleive I will do many of these items but sometimes I put too much on my plate and some say you can't do everything. I may not do everything, but I will try to do as much as I can.
I will be 100% up front and honest with you. This swim is about kids, it is about the coast, it is about the unattainable, it is about swimming and it is about the biggest physical and mental challenge I have ever taken on. It is also about who I am and what I stand for. I have no horror stories. I have a great life. I am truly blessed. I am not super human or better than other people. In the end, I am just a guy who said,"I bet I could swim the length of the Mississippi Coast to raise money for the people there." How many times in life have you said you would do something and not followed through. Once, twice a thousand times?

I may not raise $1,000,000.00, but I can assure you all of one thing.

I will see it through to the end, until the 32nd mile, and at least one kid will live a healthy life because of it.
I guess that is two things.
I thank you all for your continued support.

rocketboy

PS and I may raise $2,000,000.00