I know what you are thinking, “Wow I did not know that underwater basket weaving was a real thing. I thought it was just a facetious joke people used in certain situations.” Well I am here to tell you it is a real thing and I made a basket underwater. Now it was not completely woven underwater, only a section of it was. But nevertheless I still wove a basket underwater which to me is pretty cool. All I need to do now is get the sport recognized by the Olympics so I can win Gold in Rio and then get on a Wheaties box. Inspiring children across America.

My beginnings into this “sport” began in a group message with my friends. When I jokingly said that I had an underwater basket weaving contest that night and hoped that they would come and support me in my endeavors. As you could imagine this claim got a lot of skeptical reactions, but the topic of conversation changed before my joke was un-foiled. Or was it a joke?

You see that night I was planning on going to the Rec anyways to do a swim workout. While I was there I might as well bring some basket weaving supplies and fool all my friends into thinking that I actually had a competition. So on my way to the Rec I stopped by the dollar store and bought a basket. The 1.08 I spent on this basket was well worth the investment.

My plan was to strategically take out a few pieces of the basket and simply reassemble it underwater as one someone videotaped the whole thing. So I go to the pool, do a hard core workout of 300 or so yards and begin to take my basket apart.

Once I was ready my friend Hannah went under the pool. Yes, under; here at Texas A&M we are pretty cool and can go under the pools to viewing windows and watch people swim/dive/weave baskets. Hannah recorded me absolutely killing it underwater putting the basket back together in 17 seconds<click here to view video>. We re-met at the surface, grabbed a first place ribbon that happened to be left over from one of the elementary school swim meets we had a few weeks ago, and took my picture holding my creation as I proudly displayed my blue place ribbon.

Hannah sent both the photo and video to our group message and we laughed as the group members responded with disbelief since I actually had an underwater basket weaving competition. Sure it was a made up competition of one person, but Hannah and I had fun. And I got a first place ribbon. What else do you need in life? All I was missing was a good bowl of ramen noodles.

So I challenge you to have fun with those around you, do something random and out there, make things up as you go along. Because at the end of the day you will have a great and unique story to share. As always; make good choices, share if you like what I said, comment if you have something to add, and I will see you tomorrow.