Adults know the real dangers are the ones we face every day. These are the threats of ordinary life – a crippling car accident, a cancer diagnosis or having foreclosure take your home. 

One of my worst fears has long been that of living my life haunted. Haunted by the corrosive awareness that I never really tried for something big. We’ve all met older, unfulfilled people who’ve repeated those two dreaded words “if only.” 

When I was a high school teacher, I told my colleagues I wanted to fight in the UFC. I got a lot of jokes and disbelieving looks. I knew I might fail in my quest, but the prospect of living the life of a haunted man was the motivation I needed. 

Working towards my dream of being a UFC fighter hasn’t been without its outright hardships. It wasn’t easy walking away from teaching math. Training, fighting and traveling all the time still require considerable sacrifices. But I wouldn’t change anything because I know I’m not living on auto-pilot. In fact, I’m in the daily rumble of constant, satisfying activity. Doing now what used to be just a dream, assures me I’ll never be saying “if only.” 

If we stand still in life we can count on getting run over. As with fighting in the octagon, not being bold is a prescription for getting cold-cocked. But it’s always hard breaking our inertia - that forceful pull that keeps us locked in the same place. 

During my Big Decision Year, I confronted my fear of breaking out and moving on. In the struggle to change my career equation, the hazard I faced was not to be found under my bed. 

I was able to slay a real monster - one that resided within me and kept saying “Don’t do it, stay where you are.”