Top 10 Moments of 2023 (and, as always, honorable mentions)

Having not really thought about what all took place over the past 12-months until now, it's clear this year wasn't full of "DDWs" but learning to live and simply enjoy the life we've made. I spent a lot of time this year thinking about what all of this life is about and I'm so thankful we didn't miss any of these "mundane" moments... because [here's the secret] that's what it is in fact all about!!

With it being 1:09am on Monday, Jan. 1st... My prayer is that I'll spend this next year giving God praise for answering so many prayers and focusing on the daily discipline of not taking any of it for granted!

Without any further ado... here's my year in review's top ten moments!!

Honorable Mentions:

*) Dallas Cowboys (This has been a fun season... As of TODAY, it looks like the Boys will be not only going to the playoffs but have home-field for the first round or two! I've been to a lot of games and even got to see Jimmy Johnson FINALLY inducted into the Ring of Honor this week... But the best game in a long time, was being present for this home game against the Eagles. So stinkin' fun!).

*) Bible Studies (I'm sure if I was more involved in these it would make the top 10 but even though I didn't do anything, it still deserves to make the honorable list as both big kids stepped up this year to lead bible studies... Jackson with the Football guys and Creighton for Charleigh's volleyball team. #GodIsGood).

*) Journey Graduation (So Journey was my #1 last year, so it's fitting that the graduation, where I completed the process should make the list. I'm thankful for the time spent and though I don't think it is necessary for every believer nor the only tool out their to push deeper connection... I am forever grateful to have pushed through and finished with this group.)!

Top 10 Moments of 2023:

10) Unplanned Moments (I have no clue where to start with this note but as I reflected above... so much of this year was unplanned and simply trying to figure out if this was the life we always wanted. As mentioned, though minimal "big moments" took place, the daily unplanned miracles in the mundane abound. God is so good!).

9) Small Group (Going into last year, we knew it was time to get involved or bust. I'm so thankful for this group and to see them rally behind one another to dig a little deeper and do life together. Though so much as happened this year, the relationships have been made the investment of time and energy has been spent... Life with others matters!).

8) Kanakuk (Yes, Kamp is a regular here on the top ten list but this summer was a little different... probably the last time all three will attend as kampers! As I write this Charleigh just found out her big Christmas gift was going back but Creighton has a big Choir trip (Austria) and Jackson has officially applied and accepted to be a CIT at K-Kauai this next summer.).

7) Club Ball (Though both girls made teams this year, Charleigh's was one I wanted to highlight. Not only did she make the team on her own... she worked so hard all year to upgrade her game so she'd be ready for the 8th grade school team AND SHE MADE IT! Another cool note was that Courtney was able to coach this team and honestly, was the best group of girls and parents that I've ever seen... not one time was drama an issue, and let me tell you, that's not the norm!)

6) The Injury (Not sure what to say about this one... Creighton ended up going down at the end of this year's club season and it was so hard and sad. HOWEVER, as mentioned, it was essentially the end of the season so we didn't miss a ton and was able to jump into school ball. The sad news here, was it happened AGAIN at the end of the school ball season. Thankfully club allowed her to send a "tape" in for try-outs and she made the 17-2s... so proud of her!)

5) Board Games (Without planning, we have ended up with a bunch of family traditions... I'm not sure I love any of them more than the reality that boardgames, card games and basic hangout happens more nights than not. I love that this crew chooses to hang out together over and over again!! P.S. Yes, the victor still gets to sign their name and date the box lid after each win.)

4) Men of West (Though this is more about WINsday and Friday Morning Motivation... Men of West was also taken up a notch this year! Every Wednesday, I led the guys in different team competitions from tug-o-war to Pop the Balloon. Then every Friday I was able to come in and do a pep talk around our core values and how they can be applied for life: FAST = Fundamentals, Attitude, Selflessness, Toughness and Core, Committed, Community & Crowd. On Thursdays we did our traditional MoW and I was able to arrange a Walmart buyer to bring power tools one week, ties & dress shirts another and even meats from Hall of Famer: Earl Campbell).

3) Family Roadtrips (In 2023, we finished the NorthEast: We flew into Buffalo, saw Niagra Falls, Canada and ate the original buffalo wings. Then after our flights were canceled we decided to drive to Maine through Vermont and New Hampshire. We had lobster on the shore in Bar Harbor, saw Acadia National Park and so much incredible countryside. In Boston, we walked the Freedom Trail, visited Harvard and had the best Chinese of our lives in Chinatown. In Connected we visited Yale and had Frank Pepe's Pizza and in Rhode Island we saw the mansions and a few more pit stops on the beach!) 

*As I write this, we are putting the finishing touches on our June 2024 trip where we will hit 6 of the remaining 7 states!

2) The end of Football (I'm still not sure what to write here... It's been almost two months since the season ended and I still feel I missed so much. Time will tell if he will look back on it with no regrets and decide if all the time, energy and hurt was worth it. It's the one sport you don't really ever get to do again...and I can't believe it's already over).

1) 20th Anniversary (No better decision have I ever made then asking this woman to be my wife. She makes me better in every way and more importantly, has continued to be exactly what I have needed in every season. God truly made her with me in mind and I couldn't be prouder to have celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this year... We even got to go to the same hotel AND ROOM from both our first honeymoon night and our 10th anniversary.)!

Bottom line... God is good and oh so faithful, may I never forget this NOR take it for granted!!

**Past years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022!!

Top 10 Moments of 2022 (and, as always, honorable mentions)

It's only 3 days after the new year and we're back. That is significantly better than last year's post which was 8 MONTHS late! All in all, this might be the only tradition I'm keeping up with these days. That's not to say cool things aren't happening, I'm just saying 2022 was a big year of introspection, re-evaluating everything in my life and then trust Him with one step at a time (versus my usual 5-10 year plan :)). 

It's funny how looking through pictures brings back so many memories you forget about, even if it's only been a few months. Our day-to-day lives are so powerful in building and shaping our attitude yet we often only remember the mountain tops or valleys. 

I'm excited about this years top 10 moments and as a reminder, these aren't just the highlights, these are the moments that shaped the year!

P.S. And as always... the previous years of these are linked at the bottom.

Honorable Mentions:

*) Trash Creamery (Yes, that's right... An ice-cream shop has officially made the list. If you understood the sheer number of photos, and thus dollars, that have been spent here you'd understand ;))!

*) Professional Wrestling (Our good friend and colleague, Terrence, is also a ring announcer by night and he invited us out to a local wrestling match and let me tell you, it did not disappoint... Look at that face!).

*) #JeepLife w/ JoJo (Making the honorable mentions for the THIRD year in a row... It's not worthy of bumping out my kids in the top ten, but man, there's not a lot I enjoy more personally than taking the top off, woman by my side, kids in the back and looking for some dirt roads or Jeeps to duck!)!

Top 10 Moments of 2022: 

10) Hot Tub (I hate putting a "liability" on the list BUT if you only knew the smiles it brings, the conversations it starts and the therapy it produces you'd understand. Many years from now, feel free to tell my teenagers that they actually didn't trick me into letting them stay up late because of the hot tub but that I knew they would talk about every aspect of their day while in the tub ;)).

9) Dallas Cowboys (12 years of Dad having season tickets and I still love every minute of it... I'm hoping by this time next year I will get to show you pictures of a Super Bowl win and thus, a much higher on the list Dallas Cowboys representation! #WeDemBoyz).

8) Kanakuk (Another year and another top ten mention for Kamp. Though this is and continues to be a HUGE financial commitment, it is something I knew I wanted to give my kids since I first stepped foot through the K-Kountry gate 24 years ago. This year everyone went for two weeks: Bigs to K2 and the youngest to K-West... Additionally they received the Spike, Heart & I'm Third Awards!).

7) Working Out (It's been a rough year emotionally and physically, thus the weight has been a struggle all year. At times this year, I was nurturing a couple solid injuries, work was very stressful or I just flat out couldn't get my daily disciplines together as a result of depression and anxiety. Miles of rucking, hours of Workouts and endless Hot Tub/Cold Plunges later... we're back on track) 

**Side-note: 286lbs was reached this year, NEVER again!

6) Kids' Sports (This has again made the top ten list and rightfully so... So much of our time is spent coaching practices, watching practices, cheering them on at games, working out in the off-season and discussing the highs and lows of competition. We wouldn't want it any other way... Football, Volleyball & Soccer still rule (Club Volleyball has begun for both girls this year))

5) Teen Dating (Now this is one I knew was coming but was still not ready to post about... I struggled deciding what picture to use as there's a few choice ones, some of them are not my story to tell and others are not what it's all about. The below picture shares a win but I promise it hasn't been all butter-flys and rainbows. God is good and faithful!)

4) Driver's License #2 (That's right, teen driver #2 and vehicle #4 in the house. Though this has been a great addition and we found a perfect cute little SUV, it's still surreal that I'm old enough to have that many cars in my driveway. P.S. her name is Betty White).

3) Date Nights, Man Time & Berg Family Fun Days (So I was told by many that date nights with the kids and family nights would end as they got older... please don't tell them that!! Most days we are still able to pull off dinner at the table, most weeks we still have Family Fun DAYS (had to move it to Sunday afternoons, as open evening have become difficult), and most months we're still finding time for one-on-one dates with each of the kids... I will cherish these memories FOREVER!) 

2) Family Roadtrips (So at the close of 2022 we have now been to 37 states as a family and essentially have it nailed down to four trips remaining (NE this summer, NW next spring break and then Hawaii and Alaska as senior trips for the bigs). This year's trip ended up being the longest roadtrip yet: Packer Nation in Wisconsin, U'ppers in Michigan, Mall of America & a family friend's lake house in Minnesota, "the wood chipper" in Fargo, ND, the Corn Palace in SD, Lake Okoboji in Iowa and Creighton Univ & the Zoo in Nebraska).

1) The Journey (As mentioned in #7, it's been a very up and down year for so many reasons but mainly because I have been re-evaluating and re-discovering every aspect of my life. One step I took this year, was finally joining a Journey group through Influencers (and our church). Though there is no real magic formula and I didn't love some of the material, the process is to lead us into an abiding relationship with Christ and for that I am forever appreciated.)!

*Scripture Read, Thought Conveyed, Application & Response)

Big picture and to summarize the year... Keep being the SPARK the world needs (your world) and remember to take 3 seconds to TAKE THE PICTURE (then put the phone away :))!!

*Want to follow me more regular: FB, IG, LinkedIn & TikTok (@TheSurgeBerg)

**Past years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021!!

Top 10 Moments of 2021 (and, as always, honorable mentions)

Today is June 18th, 2022 and given that it took me til September to do last years, I'm doing better!! :) 
As always, this is to document key events and moments of the previous year... Not all great or life changing, but moments in time that are important to remember. The one thing I continue to be reminded of when making these is how good life truly is, like the fact, that it's hard to narrow down a top ten is something to hang my hat on. The statement is so true: "the days are long but the years are quick!" No matter how bad or sad I feel in the moment, may I keep moving forward and making the most of it as tomorrow and next year I will look back with fond memories!

P.S. As always... the previous TEN years of these are linked at the bottom.

Honorable Mentions:

*) Influencer Life (In no way gets to make the top 10 but so worth the honorable mention as it's been pretty interesting and exciting when they come in: Coldest, Nou, Bombas, ShadyRays, ZOA, etc.)!

Top 10 Moments of 2020 (and, as always, honorable mentions)

Today is Sept. 5th 2021, but I am going to back date this post to Jan. 1st... That pretty much sums up the past 18 months, huh!! 2020 was a whirlwind of crazy, crazier and massive life change... As always, we keep moving forward and looking for ways to be the Spark for ourselves, our family and the world!

P.S. This marks the 10th entry into my 'Top 10 moments of the year,' absolutely insane, by the literal definition to look back at everything that has happened in ten years. If you want to see those previous years, scroll all the way to the bottom for the links.

Honorable Mentions:

*) JoJo #JeepLife (With everything that happened this year, I cannot put JoJo into the top 10 but taking her naked on backroad rides is probably the thing I do more than anything else)!

The DDW List

I feel like I've posted this before but I cannot find it, so here it is... The Master DDW List, Updated to January 2020.

DDW (Don't Die Wondering):
- *Happily Married (Be a Great Dad) *So far so good :)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom 
- Drive Route 66 (Chicago to LA)
- Become an honorary Spartan 
- Own a bald eagle
- Meet a president
- Save a life
- Ride a Bull
- Sky Diving
- Hot Air Balloon ride

Top 10 Moments of 2019 (and, as always, honorable mentions)

I'm a little late getting my annual top ten list posted but better late than never... I just love being able to look at the year in what has become a digital scrapbook each year. Had A LOT of ups and downs this year but as always... We keep moving forward!! I am thankful for 2019 but so ready for some 2020 vision!! Enjoy.

Honorable Mentions:*) SpartanX Leadership and Spartan Race (As I closed 2018, I sold Spartan Code, LLC to Spartan Race, LLC which led to a lot of crazy like SpartanX Leadership and watching a dozen Walmartians run the Spartan)!!

Top 10 Moments of 2018 (and, as always, honorable mentions)

WOWZERS... 2018 was nuts!! I had actually taken the entire month of December off because of the crazy I am now reminded of happening while making this list. Good news, with 30-days off I am chomping at the bit to tear into 2019.

However, before I get into this coming year and everything I have in store... Let's take a moment for my annual look back through the top 10 moments of 2018. **Also, if you are curious about the previous years, all the links are at the bottom!

Honorable Mentions:
*) Shareholders (My first real trip to see Walmart at that next level... It was so fun and ultimately set the tone for what all was going to take place the rest of the year)!!

Top 10 Moments of 2017 (and, as always, honorable mentions)

With so much that has happened this year and even more happening RIGHT NOW... I'm both excited to post this and yet sad to realize it is only my third blog post in the past 12-months (there will be many more this coming year, get ready!)! 

In a nutshell, 2018 is going to be crazy!!  We have spent the entire year laying groundwork to finally launch the 'Modern Day Agoge' (Spartan Code's monthly training plan) THIS MONTH!!  Not to mention, I have started yet another new position, still within the Walmart family but new focus, AND yes with all that and the fact that my family is still my number one priority, it's going to be a bumpy ride.  

All that being said... Let's do a quick look back into the top 10 moments of 2017 (Reminder that not all moments are great but they are the biggest "moments" of the year).

Honorable Mentions:
*) Dallas Cowboys (This past season has been a big let down, however, last seasons' playoffs were also in 2017, so they balance out)!!

Ten Lessons I've Learned From Swimming at 5AM!

So over the past several weeks I have been trying a new routine, complete with getting it all kicked off with a wake-up alarm of 5AM.  This is quite a new thing for me!  I’m guessing that if you do in fact know me, and have seen my early morning posts lately, you just assumed I was still awake from the previous evening.  Nope friends, I have been getting up and heading to the gym for a workout.  Given the fact that I am extremely not used to getting up that early I have found it best to do laps in the pool.  I have found it far more difficult to go back to sleep under the water!  Though this, in and of itself, is a mighty great lesson it is merely just the beginning.  

Here are my ‘Ten Lessons I’ve Learned from Swimming at Five AM’:

10) All pools are not created equal… At the gym I workout at, there are multiple pools.  Some are inside, others are outside but though they all have water they are not the same.  The outside is often far colder than the others, even more interesting is that it is longer as well.  I didn’t really realize this until I thought I was shattering my time from the day before (times compared to the longer pool).  Though I love thinking I’m a super swimmer in the smaller pool, I find true peace and solace from taking the plunge and enjoying the deafening quiet of the outside large pool.

9) Most businesses are not open yet so plan ahead for breakfast… We all know that businesses have hours and that we should always plan for the day BUT how many of us actually do?  My morning swim has caused growth far beyond simply going to the gym.  Instead, it has forced an entire lifestyle change to take place.  Each night before bed I lay out my clothes, pack my workout bag, pre-prep an easy breakfast meal and even place my toothbrush and toothpaste by the kitchen sink.  The goal is to not only get out of the door but to do it without waking everyone else up.  What’s crazier still… Is the amount of time I have “found” from executing a very planned out day (More on this in the future)!

8) No matter how much you plan sometimes things just won’t go your way... One morning after finishing my laps in a very cold pool I decided I needed to take a few minutes and get some hot tub time.  Unfortunately the hot tub was closed, saddened but not defeated I went to the showers only to find the soap dispenser was completely empty and don’t get me started about the used bandaid on the floor.  Oh yeah!  I was frustrated but still had the entire day ahead of me.  I once heard a speaker say: “Have you really had a bad day or did you just have a bad couple minutes that you’ve milked the entire day?”

7) You have to stay in your lane... Apparently, like many situations in life: standing on the left side of a walk way at the airport, leaving at least one empty urinal in between you and the other guest or that the toilet paper goes over the top not under… these and “stay in your own lane” are apparently very serious rules we must live by to keep all of us civilized!  In related new: You are not being clever if you try and pass everyone waiting in a line for the stoplight by using the shoulder only to cut in with your fast beating blinker at the last second.

6) Don’t be intimidated by others… Fact, there will always be someone better than you at something.  This is double true when you are taking on a new hobby, you just don’t have the experience (or cool gear) yet!  Though I do not require the swimming cap, mirrored goggles or super towel that could, if necessary, absorb all the water in the pool… I am however on the look out for a swimsuit that will tie just a little tighter while moving.  Though those folks look like experts, don't get caught up in it and just get in and get started!

5) Learning the right ‘How’ can make it a whole lot easier… What I love about this lesson is the fact that if you apply the previous lesson (don’t be intimidated by others) you will have earn some respect, or pity, from others and they will jump at the chance to help.  Though I had only swam a couple lengths, apparently others noticed when I was hyperventilating at the edge of the pool.  Out of shape…Yes but that wasn’t the whole story as they pointed out.  I was simply wasting some of the motion of my arms and not being steady and true with my legs.  Sure enough, just a few lengths later and I had found my glide.  

4) Find your sweet spot… Too far to the right and your arms scrape the sides, too far to the left and you get tangled up in the ropes.  However, if you can focus on the painted line below the water, keep an even glide, you will begin to really not only make the distance but do it with far more speed and comfort.

3) Remembering the ‘Why’ is the only thing that will keep you going… As I recall, it was only days two, three, five, six, nine, ten, etc. that I had problems wanting to get up and get started.  This is a lesson I know I do not have to sell to you yet probably one of the most important.  If you don’t continue to remind yourself of the why, you will never find the reasons to keep going and make a difference.  Whether its working out, eating right or even making your marriage work, you must find ways to help yourself remember why you started!

2) Sometimes you just have to jump in… Some mornings just don’t go as planned: you’ll hit the snooze one too many times, you’ll have forgot your goggles, there are too many people in the pool, the water is just too cold, etc.  That’s resistance and rest assured if it has found you, you’re doing the right thing… Jump in, try and stay positive and just KEEP MOVING FORWARD!! 

1) You will never know until you try it… I do not recommend this in all walks of life: singing through all of the verses in “this is the song that never ends”, painting your body gold, smoking crack or googling “Find Chuck Norris” (okay, maybe you should do that last one).  I do, however, think all of us should have a list of things we want to do before we die.  I call mine the DDW list (Don’t Die Wonderin’).  No, swimming at five was not and is not on the list… being in the best shape of my life (before my fortieth birthday), being present as a great father and being a better husband than the man my wife married is.  I didn’t know swimming at five in the morning would bring other goals to fruition but here we are… killing it!  

There are many more lessons I’ve learned from swimming at five but they are things only you can understand if you choose to experience them for yourself.  Is this your moment?  Have you been making excuses?  Bottom line, some times it’s as simple as getting up, getting dressed and jumping in!  Try something new this week and let’s change our lives and this world together.  Looking forward to seeing  you out there, just make sure you stay in your own lane!

Top 10 Moments of 2016 (and, as always, honorable mentions)

No clue if anyone is still interested in what's going on with our journey but if so, here we are again, posting another crazy year of old life experiences in a completely new context, as well as, brand new moments.  This has become far more of a public journal for myself but I hope it is at the same time inspiring to others to keep moving forward with goals and dreams no matter what life throws at you.  

I honestly didn't think it could get any crazier BUT sure 'nough... This year I learned a ton, spending countless hours experiencing a whole new business, new aspects of life and a new season for our family.  As we move into 2017, the Berg's have the same goals and dreams (help people win) but in a totally new paradigm than we could have ever imagined.  I truly believe this will be the biggest year of change we've had and we're very nervous but extremely excited at the same time!  Get out there and "change things" this year!

Now on to the top 10 moments of 2016... Reminder that not all moments are great but they are the "moments" of the year that have shaped this season.

Honorable Mentions:
*) THE DALLAS COWBOYS (It's been a great season but if we make it all the way to the Super Bowl, you better know that will be a top 3 moment in 2017)!!

My Top 3 Favorite Leaders

A good friend of mine is currently working on his masters in leadership and recently asked me who my "top three great leaders" were.  When thinking about who are the greatest leaders of all time, literally, hundreds of leaders come to mind... Though I’d like to talk about all of them, I will give you the answer I gave him, my top three (in order of era).

King Leonidas (480BC)… King and leader of the Spartan Army (the most elite and disciplined soldiers the world has ever seen). With many stories of Leonidas’ passion and leadership the one that stands the test of time was also his last one (Battle of Thermopyle). In 480 BC, facing the largest army the world had ever seen (Persia), King Leonidas rounded up 300 men, whom had sons, to head to battle and stop the Persian army just long enough to allow a bigger army to gather and defeat the Persians. He chose men with sons because he wanted their names to be past on for generations, Leonidas knew he, and those men, would not return. Even when given the option to surrender and in return be made rich, Leonidas held to his convictions and fought to the very end. 

Jesus (32AD)… Born to a single mom and step-son of a poor carpenter, Jesus would grow up learning about his heritage, purpose and developing a plan that would literally change the world.  At thirty years old, Jesus selected a group of twelve men to train and teach all that he had learned from experiences and his God.  After three years of living with this group, seeing the them grow both numerically and in life, Jesus would pay the ultimate sacrifice for his convictions.  Being nailed to a wood cross, the worst punishment Rome had came up with, Jesus left his small group of followers to carry on the name and teachings.  2,000 years later, his followers continue to pass on his teachings and stories to billions around the world.

William Wallace (1305AD)… Though William was a “commoner” he didn’t grow up like one. With the loss of his parents at a young age, William traveled with his uncle and learned about life, politics and even war. As an adult, he came back to the village he was born in and began to raise a family. Cut short of this hope by England’s reign and forcing Scotland’s submission but in so doing causing pain to many. William began to speak of rebellion and freedom. At the battle of Sterling he would become famous using tactics and strategies never before seen in battle. Ultimately, though being offered release, he would choose to sacrifice his life to the cause of freedom of his people.

Three different men, hundreds of years apart, but a common thread is found in all of them.  Discipline and Integrity of self, plus Sacrifice and Courage for others... These four characteristics is what separates them from so many others.  I believe that every great leader must have all four of these characteristics... Are you ready to carry the DISC!?

What to find out more about DISC or we call it 'The Spartan Code'!?  Visit our website: www.TheSpartanCode.com (there's even cool Spartan Code gear).