Phil and the art of saying yes

Phil, aged 45, writes about his Stand Up Paddleboard adventure.

He explains: “The Biggest Book of Yes is a collaborative project created by volunteers who are all members of the Yes Tribe.

“Everyone involved is an ordinary person who has given their time free of charge to create this inspiring book about what happens if you simply ‘say yes more’.

“The book has 49 chapters. Each chapter is the story of a Yes. Some are tails of adventure such as rowing across the Pacific, climbing Kilimanjaro, running ultra-marathons, riding tandem bikes around the world and Stand Up Paddleboarding around Mallorca… that’s mine by the way!

“Equally there are others about overcoming life’s challenges, like setting up a business, converting an old bus into a home, home educating children and dealing with depression.

“There really is a story for everyone in this book.

“All the proceeds are going to a charity called the Teddington Trust, a marvellous charity that takes people with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), a rare, hereditary skin disorder affecting 1 in 250,000 people.

“People with xeroderma pigmentosum are not able to repair the damage caused to their skin by the ultraviolet (UV) part of daylight.

“They can burn easily or develop abnormal freckles on skin that is exposed to UV.

“They can also develop eye, nerve or brain problems, and are more likely to develop skin cancers, especially if they do not protect their skin from the harmful effects of UV. Imagine that, not being able to go out in the sun without total protection.”

Phil added: “My chapter is about my Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) around Mallorca in May 2019.

“I had always wanted to undertake a multi-day SUP expedition, but between work, family life and the daily grind just taking over, I never got around to it.

“In May 2019, I decided to take the plunge, so I typed cheap flights to Europe into Google and up popped Mallorca.

“It was the perfect distance to get around in a week and being a circumnavigation I would start and finish at the same spot.

“In my chapter I talk about my journey around the island, how I felt finally being there, where I slept and the positive physical and mental effects of the trip.

“I am a member of The Yes Tribe, an ultra-positive online group of 14,000 people committed to one idea, that of saying yes more often.

“Just search it up on Facebook.

“It was founded by adventurer, speaker, author and all-around nice guy called Dave Cornthwaite.

“The tribe was a great help and source of advice for my paddle, so when the request came out for authors to write a chapter about what happens when you say yes more, I jumped at the chance.

“I am not an author and have never written anything published in a book.

“To be honest it terrified me, but was also very exciting. It was great to get the story down on paper and relive the trip at the same time.

“It felt like I had extended the trip by reliving it.

“I submitted two drafts and had them looked over by a friend and the book editor.

“I learned so much about the process of writing and editing and publishing a book.

“I will never be scared to do it again. If you have a good story to tell, then just do it.

“It’s the third book in a series of Big books. It follows the The Big Book of Yes and The Biggest Book of Yes.

“They are a very similar in nature, collections of stories from ordinary people who are not adventurers or authors, but have done extraordinary things.”

The Biggest Book of Yes is available from Amazon, priced at digital £3.99, print £20.