Owning My Space, Owning My Movement
What up, world? What up, world? What up, world?
It’s August twenty-second, and this is Day Five of my journey. I’m here, still moving, still committed, still holding myself accountable through this Just Do Ten Challenge. Three sets of ten burpees, every single day.
But before I hit the ground and start moving, I need to get something off my chest.
To the critics out there — to the ones watching with a side eye, the ones with a little smirk, the ones waiting to judge — let me say this: Don’t judge me. This is my channel, my space, my voice. I’ll say it the way I want to say it, I’ll do it the way I want to do it. That’s the beauty of this challenge. It isn’t about perfection. It’s about persistence.
I’m not here for approval. I’m here for growth.
So let’s keep it short, let’s keep it brief, let’s keep it to the point: it’s burpee time.
Gratitude First
Before I hit the first set, I want to take a moment to say thank you. Because this challenge isn’t just about me grinding alone — it’s about community, accountability, and inspiration.
Shoutout to Daren and Carla Queenan for busting out their burpees. Thank you for stepping up and showing what “Just Do Ten” is all about. Shoutout to Coach McKenzie Seals for bringing the energy and doing her ten. I see you, I appreciate you, and your effort fuels mine.
It’s wild how a simple set of burpees can ripple out across lives. Someone posts theirs, someone else gets inspired, and suddenly the challenge grows bigger than one person. That’s exactly the vision.
Set one down. Ten burpees in the bank.
Tallahassee Stories
Every day with this challenge, I like to weave in some storytime. Fitness builds the body, but storytelling builds the soul.
So let’s rewind to Tallahassee. My very first roommates when I went to Florida State weren’t just roommates — they were a married couple: Kevin and Vicki Crist. They had two dogs, Pete and Sugar. Those two dogs had puppies, and I ended up with one of them — my dog, Storm.
Now Storm, bless his heart, was full of energy and appetite. My dad reminded me just this morning that Storm once chewed up one of his shoes. That’s the kind of chaos a young college kid deals with while chasing dreams, juggling school, and building a life.
So today, I’m sending the challenge out to Kevin and Vicki Crist. You were part of my foundation back in those Tallahassee days. Let’s see you two knock out your ten burpees.
The Coaches Who Pushed Me
But the challenge doesn’t stop there. Another big shoutout to Coach Jonathan Carter. Back in my Florida State days, JC was a force of nature. Now he coaches cross country, he coaches track, and he carries the same Seminoles pride and intensity to his Shark’s squad down at Nova Sputheastern in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
I’ll never forget my junior year. Jonathan Carter lined up for the one-hundred-meter dash. Now, this race was set up differently than usual. They were running toward the hurdle storage building instead of away from it. I was in the pole vault pit watching, and JC pointed down the track. He said, “There’s about to be a show.”
And he wasn’t lying.
I watched that man run the fastest one-hundred meters I have ever seen live in my life. The clock read ten point one nine seconds. Ten point one nine. That’s not just speed, that’s art.
So JC, you know what time it is. I’m calling you out. Let me see ten burpees.
Why There Was a Skip
Now, let’s get real for a moment. You might have noticed a gap in the dates. That’s because I had to take a sick day before doing my Day Four workout. I didn’t miss the workout — I just had to respect my body, give it the rest it needed, and then come back ready to move again.
That’s the honesty I want to bring to this challenge. Some days you stumble, some days you slow down, some days you need to pause. And that’s okay.
The important part is what you do next. Do you quit? Or do you reset and keep going?
Today, I’m here. Today, I’m on the floor. Today, I’m back at it. Three sets of ten burpees.
Side Projects and Big Dreams
Part of why I was so drained that day is because I’ve been working on a twenty-five-year-old project. Something that’s been living in me for decades — a novel I’ve been shaping and reshaping.
The working title: The Book: A Max Ridge Jr. Story.
And here’s what fuels that dream: my high school classmate, Robert Bailey. Robert has gone on to become a very successful novelist, with several books that have hit Amazon’s Top Ten in their category. Seeing someone I shared classrooms and hallways with reach that level of success shows me what’s possible.
That’s the inspiration behind this project. I’m even toying with the idea of making it open-source: an open writing room, where people can come in before the release, help fine-tune it, and build the world with me.
That’s how I see life. Whether it’s burpees or books, it’s about shared energy. It’s about creating together, building together, moving together.
Back to the Burpees
And now, back to business. Set three. I count them out: one, two, three… I trip up, laugh, reset, and push through. Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
Done. Three sets of ten.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be done.
The Call to Action
So here’s my question for you:
Are you going to do something? Are you going to move your body? Are you going to get up off the couch and take action?
That’s all it takes — just ten.
Ten push-ups. Ten squats. Ten burpees. Ten minutes of walking.
Don’t overthink it. Don’t wait for the stars to align. Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Just move. Just breathe. Just sweat.
Just do ten.
Namaste.
