Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!
To my elation, I just received a call from American Ninja Warrior that they are inviting me back to compete in my fifth season. No matter how much you try to convince yourself that you’re fine with whatever the outcome, when the calls start going out extending invites to your region, you get wildly nervous and anxious, and you remember how BADLY you want to compete. So when I heard over the weekend that the calls started to go out inviting the roughly 100 competitors that will compete in the Dallas region in 3 weeks, I got increasingly anxious as the hours passed and no call came.
But then today it did come, and I was reminded of the childlike joy of getting what you really really wanted for Christmas. In 3 weeks I’ll be headed to Dallas, the site of my most successful American Ninja Warrior season and of the moment that most torments me (narrowly missing the Warped Wall in the regional finals by a couple of inches and probably advancing to the National Finals), and will be seeking my redemption. Just a few hour drive from Austin, my hometown, I’ll be bringing my three little boys to watch me for the first time, as well as inviting other family members to come. In the past my boys were too young to really behave and understand the competition, but now at ages 8, 6, and 4 I think they’ll at least understand the event and appreciate that their daddy is competing in something so cool. I’m hoping it will be a memory that they carry with them forever, and later in their life will feel emboldened by it to follow their dreams and dare to try for something that matters to them.
I continue to feel so lucky to be part of this competition and community of competitors, and feel blessed to get another opportunity to steep in both in just a few short weeks! Wish me luck