snorkel like mallory code

As a former health and physical education teacher (and friend of Spartan Race founder Joe DeSena), it pains me to confess, that from time to time, I absolutely love to sit back in my La-Z-Boy power recliner and watch my favorite Netflix movie or TV show on my Samsung 65-inch LED Smart 4K UHD TV with HDR! I have no idea what that all means, but I do know it produces a phenomenal picture that I love to watch.

 

However, after being cooped up indoors for weeks on end during this coronavirus crisis, watching TV has become like eating chocolate cake every day, it just doesn’t seem as good anymore. I think my 12-year-old daughter summed it up perfectly after week one of isolation when she declared, “I am really sick of watching TV. It’s so boring!” A sentence, prior to this crisis, I never thought I would hear her say.

 

Unfortunately, in these unprecedented times, as active and social people, we now find ourselves sedentary in lockdown. Each day can seem like Groundhog Day, as we face new challenges and a life void of all the things we normally enjoy doing such as spending time with family and friends over dinner to exercising at our local gym. Life is changing for all of us for a while which may cause us to feel anxious, stressed, worried, sad, bored, lonely, or frustrated. It's important to remember it is okay to feel this way and that everyone reacts differently.

 

It is essential to try and take care of our mental health and wellbeing during this time of uncertainty and adversity. Doing so will help us think clearly and make sure we are able to look after ourselves and those we care about. It will also provide a great example to those looking up to us and strengthen our resolve in the process.

 

If I had to provide one piece of advice for managing our way through the stressors of this pandemic, it would consist of four simple words: Snorkel like Mallory Code, which is more of a mindset that will determine how you respond to life—especially when the going gets tough. It’s about how to remain strong, no matter what happens. Allow me to explain…

 

As a teenager, golf prodigy Mallory Code was one of the top junior golfers in the world. She won four American Junior Golf Association titles, played for the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup and Junior Solheim Cup team, and earned a golf scholarship to the University of Florida. She also helped her high school golf team win back-to-back state championships.

 

Along the way, Mallory beat golfing greats including Paula Creamer, Brittany Lang, and Michelle Wie, all of whom went on to win the U.S. Women's Open.

 

Yet, Mallory’s success was not limited to putting greens and fairways, she was also an accomplished ballet and tap dancer, a piano player, an outstanding student, and a graduate of the University of Florida.

 

However, what makes Mallory Code’s story so amazing is that she achieved her success whilst battling cystic fibrosis (CF), a debilitating and ultimately fatal disease that attacks the respiratory and digestive system, as well as various related complications such as diabetes, sinusitis, and asthma.

 

Although CF couldn’t touch Mallory’s passion for golf, it sadly began to take its toll on her body, forcing her to hang up her golf clubs for good after her freshman year at the University of Florida.

 

It would be easy to understand if Mallory felt cheated or complained that life had been cruel and unfair to her, but that would run counter to Mallory’s character. A character that was etched in faith, gratitude, optimism, and grit.

 

Instead, Mallory would say, “I have been blessed in so many ways, I really have. I have an incredible family and wonderful friends; I love my life. I would never want anyone to feel sorry for me because I have been so blessed. What should I do, sit around and complain? It just doesn’t make any sense. You take what life gives you.”

 

Mallory’s approach to her life with CF and golf were one and the same. “You have to take one shot at a time.” She said. “You have to live in the present. You can’t get ahead of yourself.” Make no mistake about it, Mallory’s approach is much easier said than done. Facing dire adversity with such tremendous inner strength, poise, and positivity would be a tall order for most people, but Mallory Code wasn’t like most people. As her dad, Brian Code, described her, “Mallory is a gamer. She's tough as nails.”

 

When Mallory was asked if there was anything she missed doing because of CF, she responded with a smile saying, “I always wanted to scuba dive, because I thought that would be neat. I can’t do that, but I can snorkel. That’s pretty cool!”

 

Mallory’s attitude was more than pretty cool, it was remarkable. It also summed up her character and subsequent success. She didn’t get mired down on what she couldn’t do, instead she focused on what she could do and excelled. When life looked bleak, Mallory would find snorkels in the sand traps of life. She continually made lemonade out of lemons, regardless of the circumstance. "No matter what happens,” Mallory would say, “there's going to be some good that comes out of it."

 

As the disease advanced, Mallory never complained or felt sorry for herself. She remained a positive life force, as she lived her life to the fullest while brightening the lives of everyone around her. She spoke on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in hopes of finding a cure. She loved her family, friends, and faith. Mallory had lived well beyond her doctors' expectations. But the burden of living with her disease finally overcame her and Mallory Code died on November 9, 2009 due to complications of cystic fibrosis. She was just 25. Even after her death, Mallory continued to make a positive difference. She was an organ donor, and a recipient was found just hours after her passing.

 

Mallory’s impeccable character of faith, gratitude, optimism, and grit is a shining example and inspiration for us all to follow. The power of finding snorkels when the going gets tough cannot be overstated enough. It is a big part of the mindset that will help us get through difficult times. So, when adversities strike, as they inevitably will, we need to be on the lookout for the snorkels all around us. We can also look around to see if there is someone else who needs a little help finding snorkels too. And to do that is indeed pretty cool.

 

 

 

 

7 Tips to Snorkel Like Mallory Code

Life has its ups and downs and knowing how to handle its adversities along the way is a big key to your success, health, and happiness. Here are seven solid tips to help you handle whatever curveballs life throws your way and snorkel like Mallory Cody.

 

1. Life Is 10% What Happens to You And 90% How You React

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, how do you react? Do you accept the situation and make the best of it, or do you blame the situation and sink into despair? Difficulties are an unavoidable part of life, but how you react to them is up to you. You can choose to react negatively, or you can choose to take charge and handle it positively. The good news is you always have a choice of how you are going to respond to every situation. The trick is to not let the situation determine your response. Charles Swindoll once said, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react.” Believe it, because your attitude and how you respond will make all the difference, even in the most dire situations. As Viktor E. Frankl, who spent three years in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, wrote in his book Man’s Search for Meaning, “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” Having a positive attitude can sometimes be a challenging task, but this is when you have to dig deep and force yourself to find the silver lining to adversity’s dark cloud. Life can be unpredictable. It has its ups and downs and twists and turns, but you always have two choices: take control of your circumstances or let your circumstances control you.

 

2. Demonstrate Gratitude

How lucky are you? If you woke up this morning with food in your refrigerator, clothes to put on, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, then you are more fortunate than 75% of the people living on the planet. You are indeed blessed. Think about all the things that you have right now in your life that you’re grateful for. This doesn’t mean you don’t have difficulties, but hopefully you take time every day to be grateful for what is good in your life, because it can make a big difference. Studies show that gratitude helps you feel happier and more positive. It also eliminates stress, improves sleep, boosts self-esteem, and makes you better equipped to handle stressors.

 

Here are a few sure-fire ways to develop an attitude of gratitude:

• Start a gratitude journal. Use it to jot down all the things you are grateful for each day. By writing them down, you will start looking for more things to be grateful for.
• To help you keep gratitude in the forefront of your mind, put some post-it notes with your favorite gratitude quotes written on them wherever you will see them: on the bathroom mirror, above your headboard in your bedroom, on your refrigerator, or on your computer screen. It’s important to constantly remind yourself to be grateful until it becomes a habit.
• Start each day with a daily affirmation of gratitude, because how you start the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. Look in the mirror and say to yourself, even if you feel silly, a gratitude affirmation like:

“I am grateful for who I am and for what I have.”

“I am so grateful for all the people that I have in my life.”

“I am so happy and grateful for the life I have.”

“Thank you, God, for giving me another chance to make the world better today.”

“I am beyond blessed that I woke up today, many did not have this privilege.”

• Replace the phrase, "I have to" with "I get to" to develop a gracious approach to doing things. It's a little tweak in phrasing, but it quickly changes your attitude from feeling obligated to feeling grateful.

 

By demonstrating gratitude you will be amazed how much your life improves. By the way, if you can read this, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read anything at all. Lucky you!

 

3. Cowboy up!

Life isn’t always easy. In fact, sometimes it can be really tough, even downright painful. As Rocky Balboa pointed out, “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows.” So, when adversity strikes, no whining, no complaining, no excuses, and definitely no hitting the quit button. Instead, handle it the way winners do and cowboy up. In other words, get back on the horse again and keep going, regardless of how many times you get knocked down. This is also known as mental toughness. It is a never-give-up mindset that firmly says, I can deal with whatever life throws my way. You know the phrase, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Well, it’s true and it is what separates the winners from the losers. So, whatever you do, don’t give up. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said, “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” In fact, giving up too soon is one of the most common reasons for failure, so keep on keepin’ on. As Rocky went on to say, “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” Giddy-up, partner!

 

4. Don’t overthink

Try to avoid the trap of overthinking your problems. When your mind is in constant overdrive thinking about the same problems, it often makes things seem bigger and more negative than they really are. When you dwell on all the negative things that might happen, it can lead to feeling overwhelmed and make it difficult to act. Instead of thinking of what can go wrong and spiralling downward, think about what can go right and keep those thoughts in mind as you keep moving forward. Another good way to stop the merry-go-round of worry is to redirect your thinking. Instead of repeating the same negative thoughts in your mind, try a positive distraction, such as exercise, watching a funny movie, reading a good book, baking brownies, or playing the piano. In the words of Erma Bombeck, “Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.” It can also make you feel stressed out and unhealthy in the process. So, switch off and live in the moment.

 

5. Practice positive self-talk

At only 5 feet 3 inches tall, Muggsy Bogues was an unlikely NBA (National Basketball Association) star, considering the average NBA basketball player is a whopping 6 feet 7 inches tall. Many so-called basketball experts said Muggsy was way too small to play in the NBA, but he told himself differently. “All my life people said I was too small to play basketball,” Muggsy said, “but I always told myself I could do it.” Muggsy Bogues went on to be the shortest player ever to play in the NBA and played for a remarkable 14 years. Muggsy told himself he could do it and he did. This is also known as self-talk, which is a little voice in your head that whispers its opinions to you all day long. You may not realize it, but that little voice inside your head has a big impact on your success and happiness. With positive self-talk (such as, “I’ve got this” and “I’m going to do great”) you will feel encouraged, confident, and competent resulting in success and happiness. It is like having your own personal cheerleader rooting you on. However, with negative self-talk (such as, “I can’t do this” and “I’m going to fail”) you will feel discouraged, insecure, and useless resulting in failure and despair. The big key to positive self-talk is being aware of what you’re saying to yourself and making sure what you are saying is positive. If your inner voice pops up with something negative, tell it to zip it immediately, and replace it with something positive. Henry Ford stated, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.” So, you might as well think you can and be sure to remind yourself daily.

 

6. Be Prepared with the 3 F’s

They are coming. They are definitely coming. They are coming for all of us. What are they? They are adversities—the unavoidable setbacks, failures, and disappointments of life. Therefore, when they arrive, you shouldn’t be surprised and overwhelmed with negative emotions or thoughts. Instead, be prepared. As UCLA basketball coach John Wooden would say, “Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.” Your best bet for dealing with all of life’s adversities is to have a strong support system in your corner, none better than the 3 F’s: Family, Faith, and Friends. The 3 F’s can be a tremendous source of strength and comfort during tough times. Studies show that people who have solid ties to their family, faith and friends tend to be more resilient during difficult times. Coach Wooden also warned of not putting material possessions ahead of the 3 F’s when he said, “I’m not saying possessions are unimportant, but we often put them out of proportion, ahead of family, faith, and friends.” Remember, when life gets difficult and uncertain, an iPhone and iPad are no substitute for a parent’s hug, a friend’s encouragement, or God’s love. How prepared are you?

 

7. Make the Most of Today

God's gift to you is today. For the average person that is 27,375 days over the course of their lifetime. What an incredible gift! The way you thank God for this gift is making the most of each one of those 27,375 days, with the exception of your first 365 days because you were limited to only sleeping, eating, drooling, and pooing. Bil Keane once said, “Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.” So, start living your life to the fullest today. Putting it off until tomorrow is wasting your gift today. Not only that, but there is no guarantee of tomorrow. Heed the wise words of Michael Landon who said, “Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.” By making today the best day ever you guarantee yourself the best life ever. How do you make the most out of today? Here are 12 proven tips:

1. Wake up early.

2. Eat right and exercise.

3. Accomplish something difficult that makes you feel proud.

4. Do something that you enjoy.

5. Put devices away.

6. Don’t worry about being perfect.

7. Be fearless.

8. Make a positive difference in someone’s life.

9. Be true to yourself.

10. Smile and laugh often.

11. Learn something new.

12. Be humble and thankful.

In his book, The Proud Highway, Hunter S. Thompson wrote, “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a Ride!’” So, when you wake in the morning, think how blessed you are to receive such an amazing gift called today and make the most of it! Because if not now, when?

 Final Thought

You now have 7 tips on how to handle adversity and live your life to the fullest like Mallory Cody, however they won’t work unless you make the full effort to apply them to your life. Begin by incorporating one tip at time and watch your snorkel power grow!