About Us
OPAAT MOVEMENT MISSION
Our MISSION is to ENCOURAGE ACTIVITIES, like cycling, that can contribute to our OVERALL WELL-BEING while providing SUICIDE AWARENESS AND EDUCATION; To make STRONGER HEALTHIER SAFER COMMUNITIES.
Our Colors
Why do we have so many colors in our Logo's?
When we started we wanted to have colors that encouraged positivity to those struggling in the dark. Those colors have purpose and meaning.
The Short answer!
Red - Willpower
Turquoise - Healing
Yellow - Contentment
Orange - Creativity
Purple - Spirituality
The Longer Answer!
OPAAT Movement strives to have all see the principles of
WILLPOWER- Ability to resist short-term temptations in order to meet long-term goals. It is important to establish the motivation for change and set a clear goal. Second, you need to monitor your behavior toward that goal.
HEALING- Doesn’t happen overnight, no matter how much you want for it to happen. It takes time and patience.
CONTENTMENT- Opportunity for minimalism, it also reduces your stress level, improves your outlook, relaxes your body, and makes your life enjoyable.
CREATIVITY- May involve an art, a craft, learning an instrument or any other medium. It also might be about living a life using your own passion and originality to continue on a path you’ve chosen.
SPIRITUALITY- If you are having a hard time finding graceful answers within your spiritual path, it probably means you are trying to be something you are not.
At its essence, willpower is the ability to resist short-term temptations in order to meet long-term goals. Lack of willpower isn’t the only reason you might fail to reach your goals. Willpower researcher Roy Baumeister, PhD, a psychologist at Florida State University, describes three necessary components for achieving objectives: First, he says, you need to establish the motivation for change and set a clear goal. Second, you need to monitor your behavior toward that goal. The third component is willpower. Whether your goal is to lose weight, kick a smoking habit, study more, or spend less time on Facebook, willpower is a critical step to achieving that outcome.
The first thing you need to realize is that healing doesn’t happen overnight, no matter how much you want for it to happen. It takes time and patience. If you really want to feel better, you need to let things take their course.
Not only does contentment provide the opportunity for minimalism, it also reduces your stress level, improves your outlook, relaxes your body, and makes your life enjoyable. There is an unmistakable freedom that accompanies contentment: a freedom to be who you are, enjoy who you are, and live the life you were destined to live.
It is not selfish to decide to find meaning in your life. It is time for you to be you. Making a living is important, but so is leading a fulfilling life. Maybe your job is fulfilling, maybe it simply provides the means to support what is important to you, if not, don’t give up on your soul. Listen to it. No one remembers their last tax return when their life flashes before their eyes. “Creativity” may involve an art, a craft, learning an instrument or any other medium. It also might be about living a life using your own passion and originality to continue on a path you’ve chosen. Your individual creativity can save your life; it’s your soul talking to you. Ignore your creative beast at your own peril.
If you are having a hard time finding graceful answers within your spiritual path, it means you are trying to be something you are not. So simplify and shift your stories if this is the case for you.
The Words Associated With The Color
O
Red - Energy, strength, motivation, confidence, willpower, courage, initiative, focus
P
Turquoise - Calm, cleansing, healing, personal relationships, sharing,friendship, resilience.
A
Yellow - Uplifting, cleansing, self respect, self confidence, self control, ability to rationalize and reason, contentment, mentally stimulating.
A
Orange - Stimulates body and mind, self esteem, optimism, inner strength, creativity, self expression, happiness, opens mind to new ideas and perspectives, revitalizing.
T
Purple - Wisdom, intuition, understanding, spirituality, peace, calm, inspiration
MOVEMENT
Change- life, surroundings, physical, emotional, spiritual, mood, sleep, behaviors, health.
The Story That Led ToOPAAT
Get to know “Lt. Dan” and the story of OPAAT. Dan’s story is an incredible journey of grace and courage. If you’ve met Dan before, then you’ve seen the infectious smile and true contentment that rests gently with him wherever he goes. But as some also know, this hasn’t always been the case. There have been many days where the voices of fear, shame, depression, and anxiety have made it hard to smile and trust others. The years of sexual abuse, PTSD from time served in the military, battling years of painful addictions, and struggling to ever have any real peace eventually lead to believing this life just wasn’t worth living anymore. After multiple failed suicide attempts, Lt. Dan was invited to go on a weekend ride with friends that would inevitably change the course of his life forever. It was on this ride that Dan was invited to take things “one pedal at a time” and slowly began to learn the hidden wisdom of simplicity. Dan returned from this trip determined and a dream was born. Cycling had proven to be so transformational that he decided to sell everything he had and get a bike and gear to begin a journey around the country visiting fellow veterans who he had served with in the Navy. As the trip began, it became obvious that this was meant to be even more than just a trip to visit friends. There was a deep passion to share this gift of cycling with others and the OPAAT Movement has begun! Now after completing the Lower 48 States and 22,000 miles, you’re invited to be a part of this continued journey and learn to take life One Pedal At A time.
There are many ways you can help!
- Share the story,Yours or mine, and get others involved
- Encourage others to share their story
- Get out and ride, challenge and push yourself
- Not a bicycle person? That is okay too. What activity do you enjoy that helps you through those moments?
- Pay attention to others struggling with suicidal thoughts and learn how to help through proper training.
- Support OPAAT through financial contributions and sponsorships
- And many more ways coming soon!!!
From our founder
I am Daniel Hurd of Ride With Dan USA and the One Pedal At A Time Movement (OPAAT Movement). This is how this journey all started for me and how a movement was born for us.
In 2017, I was in a dark place in life. I had tried to commit suicide for the third time and felt like my life was this dark void. After I was released from the hospital I was in the stage of telling everyone I was better but deep down I still had no idea how to change my life or what direction to go in.
My best friend had tried for years to get me to go bicycling with him with no success. He was an avid rider and I never really had the motivation to join him. I rode motorcycles and in my mind that would be a downgrade. This time though, for several reasons I ended up taking up his offer. With nothing to lose I decided to ride with him and two mutual friends. We rode 20 miles! It felt good in the moment but I still felt the same after. A few days later we rode again. This time 30 miles! Again in the moment riding felt good, but this feeling of being in a void lingered. What changed everything was the third ride I took with him the following weekend. We took a 166 mile trip. I remember in the first half of the ride falling asleep while riding and barely made it to our destination. What helped me get through it though was the encouragement of my friend who told me "stop worrying about what we've done and don't worry what we got left; it’s left right left, one pedal at a time."
After that trip everything changed. I realized what got me through it wasn't worrying about the past or the future but only by living in the moment. Taking it “one pedal at a time" became my mantra and my turning point. Hearing that being said to me was like someone throwing a glow stick in the void. My void wasn't as deep as I thought.
I fell in love with bicycling quick and started planning longer trips. I became addicted to cycling. This was a better addiction then my past choices of alcohol and drugs. Only a few months of riding I knew that I needed to do something EPIC. Realizing living in the moment was the key for me in my life which has led me to this journey. On March 5th 2018 from Massachusetts I started on a projected 3 year EPIC Journey of the Lower 48 States.
LEARN MORE AND FOLLOW LT. DAN'S JOURNEY OF LIFE AT RIDEWITHDANUSA.COM