The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188 stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

There is only one story.

The Hero’s Journey:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharsis).

d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story.

and more…

EVERY GOOD HERO TRANSFORMS IN THE FIRST THRESHOLD

Whilst Transformation is the essence of the whole story and can be traced back to before the Call to Adventure and does not end until the Mastery of the Old and New Worlds and Self, a significant change occurs in the First Threshold. Consider this: In The Godfather (1972), before entering the First Threshold, Michael Corleone is having fun with Kay in a hotel, plans to marry her, wants nothing to do with The Family business and is safe because the other Families know he is a “civilian.” Upon departure of the First Threshold, he is prepared to kill a police Captain, incite a war between the Families, will be hunted by the other Families and will voluntarily leave Kay behind and disappear to Sicily (where he will further follow the traditional path by marrying a Sicilian).

This part of the Transformation follows a number of distinct steps, a few of which are:

a) Upon entry into the First Threshold, the Hero loses a part of his Old Self and gains a part of his New Self. In Raging Bull (1980), Jake’s wife leaves him and he hooks up with Vickie.

b) Within the walls of the Outer Cave, the Hero is a Fish out of Water. In An Officer and a Gentleman (1983), the new recruits are losers who have been “listening to punk rock music and bad mouthing their country.”

c) Within each Cave of the First Threshold, the Hero (and subplot Allies) undergo a period of initiation that brings them closer to their New Selves. In Spartacus (1960), Spartacus et al train to become gladiators.

d) Upon exit of the First Threshold, the Hero demonstrates his (or her) Changing. Here he (or she) is slightly more evolved, a marked change from the earlier Devolved State. In The Matrix (1999), after the simulated training, Neo has to jump a real building and survive. Even though he does so badly, this is a marked change from his earlier state, where he refused and was caught by Agent Smith.

Why are earrings the most important item of jewelry? By important I mean the piece of jewelry that will do the most for your appearance. As with all jewelry it should blend with your overall attraction. You don?t want the first comment to be about your great jewelry and then you come in second. Your overall look is what needs to be fabulous, then after the comments of how stunning you look, they can notice your cool jewelry. Later we will look at what style of earrings the stars wore to the Oscars.

Earrings are what frames your face, along with hair, if the colour and style of your earrings are right they will be like two spotlights adding a glow to your face, making it brighter and more alive. Earrings with a decoration on the front of the post, covering the pierced hole, has the reflected light starting from the right point. Earrings with a shepherd hook usually start from a lower aspect and part of the effect can be lost. Also with the shepherd hook if the earring is heavy it shows up the drag on the lobe, these earrings are probably better suited for lighter more casual wear.

Looking at the Oscars 2007. On the Red Carpet almost all of the earrings that the stars wore were decorated from the front of the post, very few were shepherd hook earrings. Most earrings at the Oscars were quite elaborate but not overly so. Some like Nicole Kidman only wore tiny studs. I only saw one star, where the first thing that stood out was her jewelry, the rest were very tasteful.

More Earrings from the Oscars 2007

Cate Blanchett ? black stone on the lobe with a larger stone dropped from the first

Emily Blunt ? Stud earrings

Gwyneth Paltrow ? Stone on the lobe with a large elaborate diamond shaped drop

Helen Mirren ? Medium button style

Jennifer Hudson ? Long drop earring with the piercing covered

Jennifer Lopez ? Long drop earring with the piercing covered

Nicole Kidman ? Tiny stud

Penelope Cruz ? Large flower shaped button style

Portia de Rossi ? A short drop from a smaller stone on the lobe

Jada Pinkett Smith ? Large diamond shaped drop from a covered piercing

Maggie Gyllenhaal ? A medium retro hoop with a filigree decorated boat at the bottom of the hoop ? piercing was exposed.

Rachel Weisz ? Stud earring

Kate Winslett ? an elaborate button style

My vote goes to Penelope Cruz for making her earrings work for her, there are some photos on my Blog, the link is below, go and leave your comment.

Earrings have a long history and date back to the earliest of times. From ancient countries the earrings recovered have nearly all been a variation of the hoop earring, a style that has remained popular to this day. In Cyprus, from the middle of the 2nd Millennium BC, the popular earrings were painted terracotta in the form of stylised nude females. Earlobes were pierced 2 or 3 times and large terracotta hoops suspended from them.

In Ancient Egypt jewels were an important part of the culture, worn by men, women and children. They also used jewelry to adorn statues. There were various hoop styles among the earrings. Earlobe piercing was evident, and the wearing of very heavy earrings from an early age caused the earlobes to be extremely elongated and deformed.

From the late 4th Century BC, earrings were becoming more elaborate in design. The earrings often had suspended pendants and chains. Filigree, granulation, leaf, rosettes and doves were all used to decorate the boat or lower half of the hoop.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance earrings were in decline due to the fashion of high collars and a headdress that often covered the ears. It was not until centuries later, about the 1530s that earrings began to emerge again, this was again due to the change in hair and headdress styles. The newly emerging earrings were in the form of plain gold hoops with a pearl drop.

Then in the 17th century earrings started to make a real comeback. By the middle of the 17th century earrings were an essential item. The designs became more complex and interesting. They used ruby, pearls, emeralds and enamel in floral motifs.

18th and 19th centuries saw beautiful and elaborate designs, often using semi-precious stones. They also used diamonds and pearls and very intricate goldsmith techniques.

Early in the 20th century around 1910 to 1930 Art Deco style was popular. At this time ear piercing began to be thought of as barbaric, and clamping earrings to the earlobe with a screw fitting became popular.

1947 saw the feminine new look by Dior. This set the scene for earring design to come to the fore in a new and creative way.

In the 1970s earring design become larger and more varied. The ever popular hoops were back in demand, with many of the hoops decorated with precious gemstones.

In the late 1970s ear piercing started to make a comeback and was popular again. This trend has continued up until today when almost every woman, a large number of men and children have their earlobes pierced once or many times.

Now, as seen at the Oscars, styles are very diverse from studs to shoulder dusters. Fortunately for us we do not have to pay as much for beautiful earrings as the stars do. With today?s technology the quality of man-made gemstones is very good. Resulting in beautiful and much more economical earrings, and other jewelry. Good quality inexpensive jewelry can look as good as the expensive items. For example the cubic zirconia which is made from minerals, resembles the much more expensive diamond. Cubic zirconia is not quite as hard as a diamond but it can be cut and faceted in the same beautiful designs that a diamond can be cut in. Cubic zirconia can be colored to resemble ruby, emerald, sapphire or any other stone. Another cost cutting technique is to quality plate Sterling Silver with 18k Gold. This gives the benefits of gold at a Sterling Silver price. The choice is yours, try all styles and see which does the best for you. Enjoy your earrings and look fabulous.

Deciding on the next vacation with your family can be a daunting task, especially when your choice of place does not interest your children. You might plan to visit Alaska, but your children could be longing for a trip to the Bahamas. The best option is to figure out where your kids wish to go this vacation and finalize a kid-friendly destination.

With the release of movies like ?Madagascar?, children have become all the more keen to travel through exotic and adventurous destinations. While Madagascar is not considered to be the most popular family destination, a trip to other places like Costa Rica or Kenya can prove to be an invaluable fun-filled learning experience, well within your budget. Costa Rica serves a dual purpose as your children can learn Spanish as they explore the lush green rain forests or erupting volcanoes. Even Kenya can be a good option, as the family can learn to speak a little Swahili while exploring the rare glimpse of the mass migration of the wild beasts. You can enjoy your vacation with children listening to the sounds from within the rainforests, as well as relaxing under the star-studded sky on a safari that would be certainly more interesting for the whole family.

Eastern cities like Beijing, Seoul and Bangkok are also part of the list of favorite destinations with children, in terms of adventure. The holiday can prove to be a learning and entertainment experience, as one can see the Great Wall and learn about different cultures. Different food, different money and an altogether different way of life can be highly entertaining for you. But, entry to the country could probably take a considerable amount of time, so plan your trip well ahead of time to ensure a smooth trip to your chosen destination.

European cities such as Italy have also gained tremendous popularity over the years, but a trip might be a little too expensive. However, the Western Europe country trips generally come with discounts and amenities. You can experience a different culture. You can explore the ruins of Pompeii and go on a Gondola ride in Venice or taste delicious Italian sweets in Florence. Most Western European families enjoy vacations to countries like Italy. This gives them an opportunity to explore their ancestors.

The Caribbean is the next best holiday spot with children. Basking in the sun, playing in the sand and swimming in the deep blue water are the local indulgences that also form the basic reason for a number of families visiting this place. The holiday spot is blessed with plenty of sun, sand and water. Jamaica is full of fascinating natural beauty that is breathtaking. With white sandy beaches, black volcanic mountains and deep red sunsets, the island has evolved into a tourist?s paradise.

Hawaii as a holiday destination is also very popular with a number of children visiting the place every year. It also offers sun, sand and water in abundance, along with all kinds of summer and water sport activities ranging scuba diving to swimming with the dolphins. You can also go whale watching. Besides having fun with your family, you can also acquaint yourself more closely with the volcanic geology of Hawaii.

No matter where you plan to go for your next family vacation, do not limit yourself. Always try to explore the place to its fullest and get as foot loose and fancy free as possible. Select a destination that will be stimulating and fulfilling for your entire family. But, do not forget to plan your trip properly, as a trip to the most fascinating destination too can be very stressful without proper planning.

*It is in the faculty of noble, disinterested, unselfish love that lies the true gift and power of womanhood,–a power which makes us, not the equal of men (I never care to claim such equality), but their equivalents in a moral sense. Frances Power Cobbe.

*The weakest living creature, by concentrating his powers on a single object, can accomplish something; the strongest, by dispensing his over many, may fail to accomplish anything. The drop, by continually falling, bores its passage through the hardest rock. The hasty torrent rushes over it with hideous uproar, and leaves no trace behind. Carlyle.

*I will tell you where there is power: where the dew lies upon the hills, and the rain has moistened the roots of various plants; where the sunshine pours steadily; where the brook runs babbling along, there is a beneficent power. Chapin.

*There is no surer mark of a low and unregenerate nature than this tendency of power to loudness and wantonness instead of quietness and reverence. James Martineau.

*Theory looks well on paper, but does not amount to anything without practice. H.W. Shaw.

*The sweetest of all sounds is praise. Xenophon.

*A little praise is good for a shy temper; it teaches it to rely on the kindness of others. Landor.

*Praise is the best auxiliary to prayer; and he who most bears in mind what has been done for him by God will be most emboldened to supplicate fresh gifts from above. Henry Melville.

*Speak not in high commendation of any man to his face, nor censure any man behind his back; but if thou knowest any good of him, tell it unto others; if anything ill, tell it privately and prudently to himself. Burkitt.

*Praise consists in the love of God, in wonder at the goodness of God, in recognition of the gifts of God, in seeing God in all things He gives us, ay, and even in the things that He refuses to us; so as to see our whole life in the light of God; and seeing this, to bless Him, adore Him, and glorify Him. Manning.

*To be forward to praise others implies either great eminence, that can afford to part with applause; or great quickness of discernment, with confidence in our own judgments; for great sincerity and love of truth, getting the better of our self-love. Hazlitt.

*Our prayers are the shadows of mercy. Spurgeon.

*Solicitude is the audience-chamber of God. Landor.

*It lightens the stroke to draw near to Him who handles the rod. Washington Irving.

*In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart. Bunyan.

*Embark in no enterprise which you cannot submit to the test of prayer. Hosea Ballou.

*Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan. Bunyan.

*Affliction teacheth a wicked person some time to pray; prosperity, never. Ben Jonson.

*Religion is no more possible without prayer than poetry without language, or music without atmosphere. James Martineau.

*A Christian will find his parenthesis for prayer, even through his busiest hours. Cecil.

*Let prayer be the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening. Matthew Henry.

*A single grateful thought towards heaven is the most complete prayer. Lessing.

*The simple heart that freely asks in love, obtains. Whittier.

*Expect an answer. If no answer is desired, why pray? True prayer has in it a strong element of expectancy. R.M. Offord.

*Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer. Bunyan.

*If He prayed who was without sin, how much more it becometh a sinner to pray! St. Cyprian.

*Pray not too often for great favors for we stand most in need of small ones. J.L. Basford.

*All places are the temple of God, for it is the mind that prays to him. Menander.

*Prayer is not conquering God’s reluctance, but taking hold of God’s willingness. Phillips Brooks.

*It is so natural for a man to pray that no theory can prevent him from doing it. James Freeman Clarke.

*Prayer is so mighty an instrument that no one ever thoroughly mastered all its keys. They sweep along the infinite scale of man’s wants and God’s goodness. Hugh Miller.

*Our prayers and God’s mercy are like two buckets in a well; while the one ascends, the other descends. Bishop Hopkins.

*Prayer is so necessary, and the source of so many blessings, that he who has discovered the treasure cannot be prevented from having recourse to it, whenever he has an opportunity. Fenelon.

*I am sure I shall receive either what I ask for or what I should ask. Bishop Hall.

*For the most part, we should pray rather in aspiration than petition, rather by hoping than requesting. Leigh Hunt.

*Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees. Victor Hugo.

*The habit of prayer communicates a penetrating sweetness to the glance, the voice, the smile, the tears,–to all one says, or does, or writes. Joseph Roux.

*When we pray for any virtue, we should cultivate the virtue as well as pray for it; the form of your prayers should be the rule of your life; every petition to God is a precept to man. Jeremy Taylor.

*To pray together, in whatever tongue or ritual, is the most tender brotherhood of hope and sympathy that man can contract in this life. Mme. de Stael.

*No man can ask honestly and hopefully to be delivered from temptation, unless he has himself honestly and firmly determined to do the best he can to keep out of it. John Ruskin.

*Prayer is not eloquence, but earnestness; not the definition of helplessness, but the feeling of it; not figures of speech, but compunction of soul. Hannah More.

*No man can hinder our private addresses to God; every man can build a chapel in his breast, himself the priest, his heart the sacrifice, and the earth he treads on the altar. Jeremy Taylor.

*The best and sweetest flowers of Paradise God gives to his people when they are upon their knees. Prayer is the gate of heaven, or key to let us in to Paradise. Rev. T. Brooks.

*He prays best who, not asking God to do man’s work, prays penitence, prays resolutions, then prays deeds–thus supplicating with heart and head and hands. Theodore Parker.

*There is no burden of the spirit but is lightened by kneeling under it. Little by little, the bitterest feelings are sweetened by the mention of them in prayer. And agony itself stops swelling, if we can only cry sincerely, “My God, my God!” Wm. Mountford.

*Prayer to God doth not change him, but fits us to receive the things prayed for. Stillingfleet.

*Pray God to bless thy project; if thou canst make that prayer, accomplish thy work. Leopold Schefer.

*We pray for trifles without so much as a thought of the greatest blessings; and we are not ashamed, many times, to ask God for that which we should blush to own to our neighbor. Seneca.

*Prayer pulls the rope below, and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly; others give but an occasional pluck at the rope; but the one who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might. Spurgeon.

*Accustom yourself gradually to carry prayer into all your daily occupations. Speak, move, work, in peace, as if you were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be. Do everything without excitement, by the spirit of grace. Fenelon.

*O, when the heart is full, when bitter thoughts come crowding thickly up for utterance, and the poor common words of courtesy are such a very mockery, how much the bursting heart may pour itself in prayer! Willis.

*No large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often and long alone with God. Austin Phelps.

*That prayer which does not succeed in moderating our wishes–in changing the passionate desire into still submission–the anxious, tumultuous expectation into silent surrender–is no true prayer, and proves that we have not the spirit of true prayer. F.W. Robertson.

*The weak theology that professes to believe that prayer has merely a subjective benefit is infinitely less scientific than the action of a child who confidently appeals to a Father in heaven. Prof. Dawson.

*Prayer sends the soul aloft; lifts it above the clouds in which our selfishness and egotism befog us, and gives us a chance to see which way to steer. Spurgeon.

*The true prayer is that of the heart, and the heart prays only for what it desires. To pray, then, is to desire–but to desire what God would have us desire. Fenelon.

*Prayer, with our Lord, was a refuge from the storm; almost every word He uttered during that last tremendous scene was prayer; prayer the most earnest, the most urgent, repeated, continued, proceeding from the recesses of the soul, private, solitary; prayer for deliverance, prayer for strength; above everything, prayer for resignation. William Paley.

*Prayer is the peace of our spirit, the stillness of our thoughts, the evenness of recollection, the seat of meditation, the rest of our cares and the calm of our tempest; prayer is the issue of a quiet mind, of untroubled thoughts; it is the daughter of charity and the sister of meekness. Jeremy Taylor.

*Ever desire to approach your Creator, and you will never cease to pray. Do not think it is necessary to pronounce many words. Fenelon.

*Prayer is…the pulse of the believing soul…T. Scott.

*Prayer is intended to increase the devotion of the individual…Real inward devotion knows no prayer but that arising from the depths of its own feelings. Wilhelm von Humboldt.

*From the violence and rule of passion, from a servile will, and a commanding lust, from pride and vanity, from false opinion and ignorant confidence; from improvidence and prodigality, from envy and the spirit of slander; from sensuality, from presumption and from despair; from a state of temptation and a hardened spirit; from delaying of repentance and persevering in sin; from unthankfulness and irreligion, and from seducing others; from all infatuation of soul, folly and madness; from willfulness, self-love and vain ambition; from a vicious life and an unprovided death, good Lord, deliver us. Jeremy Taylor.

*Worship is the earthly act by which we most distinctly recognize our personal immortality; men who think that they will be extinct a few years hence do not pray. In worship we spread out our insignificant life, which yet is the work of the Creator’s hands, and the purchase of the Redeemer’s blood, before the Eternal and All-Merciful, that we may learn the manners of a higher sphere, and fit ourselves for companionship with saints and angels, and for the everlasting sight of the face of God. H.P. Liddon.

*As in poetry, so in prayer, the whole subject matter should be furnished by the heart, and the understanding should be allowed only to shape and arrange the effusions of the heart in the manner best adapted to answer the end designed. From the fullness of heart overflowing with holy affections, as from a copious fountain, we should pour forth a torrent of pious, humble and ardently affectionate feelings; while our understandings only shape the channel and teach the gushing streams of devotion where to flow, and when to stop. Edward Payson.

*If we are instant in prayer, every little circumstance awakens the disposition to pray, and desire and words are always ready…Felix Neff.

*The world looks at ministers out of the pulpit to know what they mean when in it. Cecil.

*Pulpit discourses have insensibly dwindled from speaking to reading; a practice of itself sufficient to stifle every germ of eloquence. Sydney Smith.

*Some plague the people with too long sermons: for the faculty of listening is a tender thing, and soon becomes weary and satiated. Luther.

*Always carry with you into the pulpit a sense of the immense consequences which may depend on your full and faithful presentation of the truth. R.S. Storrs.

*To endeavor to move by the same discourse hearers who differ in age, sex, position and education, is to attempt to open all locks with the same key. J. Petit-Senn.

*All things with which we deal preach to us. What is a farm but a mute gospel? The chaff and the wheat, weeds and plants, blight, rain, insects, sun,–it is a sacred emblem from the first furrow of spring to the last stack which the snow of winter overtakes the fields. Emerson.

*Settle in your mind, that no sermon is worth much in which the Lord is not the principal speaker… John Hall.

*The most intelligent hearers are those who enjoy most heartily the simplest preaching…Daniel Webster used to complain of some of the preaching to which he listened. “In the house of God” he wanted to meditate “upon the simple varieties [verities], and the undoubted facts of religion;” not upon the mysteries and abstractions. Austin Phelps.

Years ago I heard an adage about the word intentions and something to do with the road to Hades. For years since, I have repeated that phrase hundreds of time and just lately have come to realize that intentions do not pave this road to this evil place. Random thoughts are the true material for this road to Hades.

What changed my beliefs was the original meaning of the word intent which is to see. Would anyone knowingly see a path to the darkside?

When we truly see something, that is a direct action. We see the love behind the smile of our child. We see the handiwork of Mother Nature in the budding of the trees in the spring. We see our efforts through the goals that we have achieved.

One of my favorite musical scores is to the 1992 movie The Last of the Mohicans. The music is so intentional that you can literally see the action happening even without the benefit of the television or the wide movie screens.

So are you intentional or just full of random thoughts? Intentional people are those who visualize their dreams, achieve their goals and realize success because they can see the future outcomes from their current efforts. Their thoughts are not random, but very direct.

Intentional people can intimidate others who lack this ability to see. They are viewed as single minded to workaholics. When you cannot see, those who can see potentially frighten those who cannot.

Just think about your own life. When you had random thoughts, what results did you achieve? Probably, a few here or there. However, when you had intentional thoughts, did you have more or less results? Probably, a lot more.

If you live your life with intention, you will realize your dreams because you will see the future that you have envisioned for yourself.

Recently, Bear Grylls, the survival expert, was lowered into the Florida Everglades from a helicopter along with a knife, watch, water bottle, flint and the clothes on his back. His mission – to survive and get out!

He landed up to his thighs in water and checked around him for signs of alligators. Some of the swamp alligators are huge. Many of us would have climbed right back into the helicopter and flown off at speed in the direction of civilization.

He faced several days of humid weather in a watery land that hosts a million alligators and not a few deadly snakes, bears, scorpions and other hazards. He had to find his own way out to safety. The helicopter had gone.

Any survival story can teach at least three valuable success lessons:

Firstly, it can make us appreciate how easy, safe and comfortable our normal lives are. Once we realize this, most of our tasks will seem comparatively easy. We can do them without watching under the bed for predators who see us as breakfast and without taking time out to hunt down our own food!

Secondly, we can learn that knowledge and skills give us life saving power and that time spent increasing our knowledge and key skills is time well spent.

Thirdly, we can learn ways to keep up our morale when we experience tough and tiring situations.

The title of this account about eating frogs refers to two ways of eating frogs. Small frogs provide much needed protein if you are stranded in a swamp without food. Frogs in the glades are not poisonous and can be eaten with confidence!

Secondly, most people naturally hate the idea of eating frogs so Brian Tracy teaches that we should eat the frog i.e. deal with the task we least want to do first thing in the morning.

Everything else will then seem much easier and we will be inspired by our success in having already dealt with the worst task of the day.

However, some people might prefer to deal with the easier tasks first just to get themselves going. We are all different and need different types of motivation.

Bear Gryll’s first task was obvious. He needed a weapon. He wasted no time in locating a stick that could be used to poke at an alligator’s eyes and nostrils.

It would, at least, give him extra reach to try to keep the alligator at a distance. Safety is a vital priority of any successful nation or individual.

Bear’s next priority was to decide on the direction he should take to get out of the glades before his energy gave out. A key part of survival is to save energy by avoiding going round in circles.

He climbed a tree to get his bearings by tying his shoe laces together and then shinning up a branchless tree using the shoelaces for leverage.

This technique allowed him to use his legs to power himself up the tree. His arms were only used for balance. An important survival and success principle is to make use of all the physical and mental strength you possess.

Another key survival principle is to be prepared before you enter a new situation. You especially need to study the geography of a place and any landmarks or clues that may help you find your way.

In the city, those with weak bladders or heavy drinkers need to check out potential rest rooms or bushes that will provide cover when they just have to relieve themselves!

At the top of the tree, Bear looked for pine trees since they grow on dry land but all he saw were cypress trees and water oaks. That means swamp and more swamp. He had to try another method.

To succeed, you may have to try out several methods before you achieve your goal. Edison’s thousand attempts to create a light bulb is the classic example of this kind of perseverance.

Bear knew that higher ground in the Everglades is inland and that the direction of inland was west. He pointed the hour hand of his watch to the sun knowing that half way between the sun and 12 o’clock is south.

He could work out the direction of west from that. It was essential that he stick to his plan of going west to avoid going round in circles. Sometimes success involves sticking to one plan for at least a few days.

Bear headed off west and tripped over a log which had the sinister shape of a half-submerged alligator. The swamps are scary. You never know what you are treading on. Bear was spooked.

He spotted bubbles and quickly got out of the water onto the trunk of a nearby tree. No point in taking risks.

He made much noise by splashing water and hitting trees with his stick to give warning of his presence to alligators. They are much more likely to attack you if they are surprised and think they have to defend themselves.

He came to a clearing with some deep water in it and a few alligators sunning themselves to keep warm. Bear did not want to risk wading across the deep water so he looked for another way.

He found a cypress that was leaning across the clearing. Bear knew that a cypress tree that can grow in water would be unlikely to break. He climbed up the cypress and then swung across to another tree at the far side and shimmied down to ground level.

It was late and Bear knew that he had to get out of the water before night fall – the main feeding time for alligators.

He found a pop ash tree which had enough limbs which would allow him to construct a base long enough to sleep on at full stretch and wide enough to prevent him rolling out into the water. Vines and other useful materials were all around. This would save him time and energy.

He used the fronds of a cabbage palm to provide bedding. Once the bed was made, fire was Bear’s next priority. Fire would keep predators away and dry his clothes.

He made a mud base on the bed for a fire and dried and checked his feet for trench foot. If your feet are wet for twelve hours or more, the skin starts to flake off and eventually becomes infected and “out here, if you can’t walk, you die.”

Without Bear’s knowledge, lighting a fire would be impossible in such damp surroundings. The power of relevant knowledge is essential for survival and success.

His first night in the swamp was not relaxing. Scary noises were all around as the swamp life came alive. The mosquitoes bit him on his thighs when he removed his trousers to dry them.

In the morning, he needed to drink water. He used his shirt to filter the swamp water and then boiled the water to kill parasites and bacteria. While he waited for the water to boil, he used his water bottle to show him south. He tied it to his stick and watched to see which way it would swing – a shrewd local technique.

The water of the Everglades flows slowly south to the gulf of Mexico. After 30 minutes the bottle had swung round about 2 feet and stayed level. Bear knew his direction again and moved on looking for food.

The dead wood of the swamp is often home to bugs and insects. He found the larvae of some carpenter ants which are four times higher in protein content than beef. They taste sour but are a life saver. A survivor cannot afford to be fussy.

He moved on through cypress tree roots and then a plain of saw grass. Bear’s knowledge again helped him to negotiate these areas safely. Time after time his journey through the swamps showed the power of knowledge and key skills.

Learning useful skills and what you need to know is hugely important for both survival and success.

He now came across an alligator infested river. His knowledge would be more important than ever. For example, he knew that alligators can run at thirty miles an hour over short distances. If an alligator hisses, it could be about to attack. They do not feed at midday.

Bear had to find a safe place to swim the river. In 2006 three women were killed by alligators in one week – one was swimming and two others were dragged in from the water’s edge.

Bear found a narrow part of the river with good visibility all the way around. He waited an hour knowing that a large male alligator could stay underwater for up to 45 minutes.

In hot weather they often lie in deep water to cool down. Bear looked for any ripples or the eyes of the alligator just above water. Survival and success often demand relentless patience.

Bear had waited for an hour. He swam underwater so that he would not be mistaken for a bird or a turtle bobbing on the surface of the water. He kept his knife in his hand.

His heart was thumping as he reached the far side. He walked on to reach pine trees and dry land where alligators would no longer be a threat as they only live near water:

Bear commented that one word sums up the Everglades: “Unforgiving.”

However, food was available. He found a small frog and ate it raw making sure that he killed it with his first bite. Eat whenever you can to survive. He then made a net to catch some minnows and ate those raw as well.

He next found some grapefruit and oranges. This was a sign that the area may have been used by the Seminole Indians who were forced to hide from the US army in the early 19th century.

Bear made a shelter in this dry area. “If it was good enough for the Seminoles, it is good enough for me.” He made a morale boosting fire to keep predators away.

Next morning, he found a turtle that was not protected. He killed it swiftly and cooked it, as the Seminoles do, in its shell. The shell is brittle and cracks when the meat is ready to eat. Bear commented:

“It really does taste quite like chicken. That’s really good fleshy meat. The turtle has given me vital energy and has also given me a psychological boost and so much of survival is about keeping your morale up. Recharged, I am going to keep heading west.”

The dry land seemed safer than the swamp but appearances are deceptive. Bear soon came across a noisy rattlesnake. Such snakes can strike up to half their body length. He kept his eye on it and backed away slowly. You have to be very careful when walking round in thigh deep grass.

Snakes were not the only problem. There were black bears around. Bear came a cross a huge paw print on a tree. I was once chased by an Iranian mountain bear cub when I was a kid so I know how even small bears can inspire fear!

He now came into an area of swamp mud and found a sink hole of the type which can swallow small vehicles. He jumped into a hole to demonstrate how to get out. He showed how, if he struggled in an upright position, he was sucked further in.

He escaped by leaning forward and using his stick held horizontally in both his hands to create more surface area to lean forward on. He still had to work hard and wriggle out. Once on the surface, he monkey crawled away.

Recently, a jogger fell into a sink hole up to his chest and was stuck there for three days. He was found on the fourth day delirious and covered in bug bites.

Bear now came across a fence and a road. He had survived!

In the Everglades, salvation can be found just round the next tree. If you’re lost never give up hope. If you’re failing, never give up. Success could be just round the corner!

Learn the skills you need to succeed and stick to your plans! Eat the frogs if necessary but above all, appreciate how much easier it is to live with appetizing food, clean water, decent shelter and a nice, warm bed readily available!

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