“Go Big!” “Live Large!” “The Dream Tour!”

“Go Big!” “Live Large!” “The Dream Tour!” – Marketing mantras or ideologies to aspire to? Well, a little of both maybe, but we here at the ASP happen to feel like we've got some 44 men and 17 women who took that sort of typography to heart and organized their lives accordingly.

We also happen to feel that you folks, our "Dream Tour" cohorts, wouldn't be logging on to live webcasts, deciphering editorial dribble or braving crowds at the beach when the tour rolls through town if the said expressions didn't apply to your life in some fashion.

A sweeping generalization perhaps, but I have this theory. Humans don't buy into, look up to, or worship unto individuals or ideologies, that they can't relate to. And on that tangent, I don't think we idolize individuals unless we share qualities in common with them.

Want an example? Who's your hero? What are the defining characteristics that person possesses that make them “Larger than Life” in your eyes? [Okay, this is the part where you squeeze your eyes shut real tight and reel off the reasons you wish you were more like {Fill in the Blank}. Quietly. You don't want to look like a kook].

Fab, now list off a few of your positive attributes or aspects of your personality that, though they could use some honing, help define you. Got a few in common with that guy or gal who gets you going?

Some of us may lack the athletic prowess, divine drive or self discipline to ever compete on an elite level, but what we don't lack is that same inner voice that reminds us that life is what we make of it and that inspiration is not lost on us. Sometimes it takes a Superstar to remind us we're super too. Dammit.

Fanning firing you up lately? The Hobgoods get you going? Ms. Abubo got you amped? Well if you're so inclined, send your short little rambling why to melissa@aspworldtour.com. Why? Well because if it doesn't suck we might post it on aspworldtour.com (only our writing that sucks is currently allowed online) , and if it's sorta good I'll personally pass it on to your surfing superstar, and if it kicks arse then you can turn it in for some assignment someday when you'd rather be surfing than writing a lame essay.

In the meanwhile, head over to outsideaway.com to gain a little inspiration from their cover boy and our world champ Kelly Slater and Co. on how to “Go Big” and “Live Large.” It's cool, Slater's doing it.

Melissa Buckley – ASP Media