Pics From A Past Life… (Fulton County Fire Dept./EMS)

Below are some past-life pictures I recently found. I’ve done many, many things in my life; but they were all things I imagined or dreamed about as a kid. I used to get a real kick out of the old television show, "EMERGENGY!" and, when I grew-up, I got to run about 35,000 ambulance/rescue calls in Atlanta, I got to be on the FCFD Water Rescue & Dive Team with the great Captain Barry Wayne Lipham, I got to drive Fire Engines, Ladder Trucks, and Rescue Trucks, and I got to teach Fire, Rescue, Hazardous Materials, and Emergency Medical classes all over the state and around the world. In fact, the first time I went to the Soviet Union to teach Emergency Responders, I was accompanied by Dr. Gail Anderson — whose father was the Emergency Physician who was the basis for guess what television show — that’s right, "EMERGENCY!" If you let life surprise you, it will.

These pictures are only a small part of a story that is a only a small part of an amazing life — a life that is testament to the fact that THOUGHTS BECOME THINGS! For good or bad or better or worse, I can clearly see how I have created every moment of my life with a thought. Whether you call it, "Prayer," or not, you can imagine desired realities and then live the experience. I had a very vivid and active imagination when I was a kid; and I still do. Thus, I have a very vivid and active life. And, as my life changes and expands, my mind changes and expands. I look at these pictures and I remember how I used to think about the world — how much I thought I knew, and how little I really did. I can still see my old perspective; but I’ve seen other perspectives, now, also. And my world is a bigger and brighter place as a result. I’ll share some more pictures soon… Stay tuned; I’ve done some cool things and seen some beautiful places over the years!

Click ‘Read More’ to see pictures of one of the many chapters of a very colorful life…

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Hazardous Materials Training & Teaching: More Pics of "Cool" Things I’ve Learned How to do…

I don’t know why anyone would want to mess with Hazardous Materials — other than the fact it is mentally and physically challenging and SOMEBODY’S GOT TO DO IT… I’ve always sought out challenges… My thought was always that it was way better to know what’s going on than not; and it’s way better to be the guy doing the "helping" than the guy needing help! Knowledge is power; and it is often the only difference between "victim" and "rescuer."

Click ‘Read more’ to check out some more pictures of Pete experimenting with life…

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Up The Creek (with lots of paddles) in St. Marys — Kayaking Pics

When I left the Fulton County Fire Department — and Atlanta — I moved to St. Marys and opened a kayak shop called, "Up The Creek." It started small; but, with lots of help, Up The Creek quickly became one of the biggest kayak tour and instruction operators — kayaking with anywhere between 1-person, up to 80-paddlers on some of our trips! We owned a couple hundred kayaks at one point! The area around St. Marys is perfect for kayaking, offering amazing views and wildlife — and lots of good weather for kayaking. The shop is located footsteps from the St. Marys River, and is within an hour of Cumberland Island, the Okeefenokee Swamp, countless tidal rivers and creeks, and several beaches for surfing.

We had great "business trips:" Whitewater kayaking in North Carolina, Sea Kayaking in Florida, and Coastal Georgia and South Carolina, excursions to Utah, and lots of trips to Cumberland Island in Sea Kayaks. I opened the shop in 1997 and sold the shop to Tom and Julie Monahan a few years ago — shortly after writing "The Belief Formula." You might not believe this, but this kayak shop was actually born when I was a child watching "Sesame Street." I saw a video of a kayaker flipping over and turning back upright. I was terrified and curious at the same time — the perfect seed for a real life experience (curiosity and intense emotion)… I recently found the video clip on YouTube:

 

 

So, another childhood impression emerges into my experience… Here are a few pics of the shop, some of the boats and places we paddled:

*Click on ‘Read more’ to see more pics of a life of adventure and discovery — and trial and error, etc…

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More Pics: What next? Flying… It Was Only A Matter Of Time. All Dreams Are.

While I was growing up, my dad worked for Delta Airlines; I literally grew up on and around airplanes — and I love airplanes. My parents told me that my first word was, "Airplane." I used to sit for hours watching airplanes taking off and landing; and I always knew I would be a pilot one day. And now, I have had a pilot’s license for about 16-years… I also imagined how cool it would be to fly helicopters; and I’ve been fortunate enough to do both… And, my dad was my first official passenger as a licensed pilot — another complete circle from dream-to-thing.

Flying is a cool thing that cultivates certain character traits — like attention to detail, for instance — and gives you a sense of freedom and a completely new perspective of life and the world. I’ve flown a number of airplanes; and, though I’ve had a couple close-calls due to equipment, I’ve always made it back home. Maybe because I’ve never imagined anything else?

Click ‘Read more’ to see a few pictures of yet another evolutionary experience along my walk around this world…

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