Everything's Always Worth It - Reclaiming the Fifteen Minutes

Last night, I was happily eating my Panda Express when I got a hot tip via SMS:

Do you need any cross country skis, snowboard boots, bindings or camping stoves? Come to the Outdoors Center -- they're giving away free stuff. Hurry! 

So I closed my to-go box, hopped in the car (I normally longboard... but how was I going to skate home with all that cool free stuff?) and got to the Outdoor Center as fast as I legally could. 

After forty-five minutes of pawing through gear with some other outdoorsy people -- most of whom had actually come to the gym for whitewater kayaking pool session ​

We talkin' 'bout practice.

-- we had divvied up the bounty in a mutually satisfying way.

It was 7:38pm, and pool session ended at 8pm. Lia, a kayaker I'd just met asked, "Should I still go? Is it even worth it?" 

I don't like to offer unsolicited advice, but since she asked, I said, "I like to say that everything's always worth it. Remember when we were young? Recess was 15 minutes long. That was enough time to line up in a single file line, walk down the hall, go outside, pick teams, play a full game of kickball, and then line back up and go back inside.

"We've got to reclaim the 15 minutes. We've got to believe that everything's always worth it."

Sure, I was being a little campy and over-the-top. I do that sometimes. But that really is a good life motto. I really do believe that.

In fact. I went to pool session at 7:40 once. I'd been in the pool a few times since my shoulder surgery

but I'd never attempted a roll, because my doctor said I wasn't ready yet. But that night was the first night when I was physically capable of trying a roll. So I faced one of my greatest fears, capsized myself... and swam, because my roll attempt failed.

But! I had time for one more try. I took three deep breaths, squeezed my eyes shut, tucked, capsized...

And nailed it. Totally nailed it. On my second try. (Much to my surprise.)

It's impossible to say if my brilliance could have been repeated, because pool session was now over. But as I climbed out of the pool -- shivering, chlorinated and beaming -- there was no doubt in my mind that it had been totally worth it. 

So anyway. Back to last night.

After loading my awesome new stuff in the car, it was time to play some basketball. And then it was time for some rock climbing. And after that, it was supposed to be time for karaoke. Except I'd planned on leaving around 9:30-9:45, and it was now 11pm. Karaoke ends at midnight.

My climbing partner asked me, "So are you still going to karaoke?"

"I don't know..." I replied. "It ends at midnight. By the time I get there, it'll be 11:15. Is it worth it?"

As soon as I asked the question aloud, I realized what a huge hypocrite I was. Just hours ago, I'd told this girl that everything was always worth it. I'd told her to reclaim the 15 minutes. And here I was, balking at the 45 minutes. 

So I answered my own question. "Yes. I'm going. I have to go. It's worth it. I have to follow my own advice and just go."

I made a decision on the drive there that it would be worth it -- that I would make it worth it -- even if I only got to sing once. 

But I didn't sing once. And I didn't sing twice. I sang three times -- we talkin' Shania Twain, Spice Girls and Foreigner! And I danced. I made a new acquaintance, and I got a lot of hugs. Hilarity ensued, and it was absolutely worth it. 

Photos courtesy of Samuel D Marshall,  the best karaoke DJ in town - and also one of the greatest guitar players and singers I've ever met. If your goal in life is to stay young -- talk to this guy.

Because everything is always worth it. 

Now go reclaim your 15 minutes.