In my life I’ve seen and done and escaped a lot of dangerous situations — some created by my own recklessness and others in which I was an innocent bystander.

And if I’ve learned anything, it’s the importance of being grateful for the things I got away with and to learn from my mistakes. And to recognize that simply because I got away with something stupid, it was still a mistake. I was simply lucky I escaped any consequences. 

I have led an active, sometimes risky, life full of adventure, near-misses, failures and successes.

Consider some of the things I’ve done in my life:

1. Jumped off cliffs into the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, into the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii and into the East Fork Black River in Missouri.

2. Bicycled thousands of miles including multi-day treks across Kansas, Missouri and Vermont, raced a bike up Pikes Peak and toured Vienna by bike.

3. Ziplined down Main Street in downtown Las Vegas.

4. Exited a plane in Denver that proceeded to fly to Colorado Springs and crash, killing all 25 people onboard.

5. Survived two active-shooter situations. In one, I became the star witness for the prosecution; my testimony was credited with convicting the shooter of attempted murder and put him in jail for 20 years.

6. Flown over my bicycle handlebars and smashed, face-first, into large boulders lining a creek.

7. Driven cars and bicycles at stupid speeds, lost my temper and blurted out things that nearly got me fired, said things I regretted and regretted things I didn’t say before someone was gone forever. 

There are other highlights of my life that weren’t risks for me but taught me lessons. I have:

1. Saved two people from drowning.

2. Walked a picket line elbow-to-elbow with Bill Clinton.

3. Had several conversations with Ronald Reagan.

4. Sat and talked at length with Muhammed Ali. (His autograph hangs on my office wall and is a cherished possession.)

5. Interviewed the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

6. Faced a screaming tirade from Black Panther leader Bobby Seale because he didn’t like a poorly phrased question in which I suggested he was a “radical” (which he took as a harsh criticism) instead of a “revolutionary” (which he called himself and considered to be a badge of honor during the tumultuous 1960s.)

What did I learn from these various incidents?

Mostly I learned how easily I could have been seriously hurt or killed by poor decisions. Usually my own. 

And, looking back, I learned how incredibly lucky I have been to survive most of these incidents unscathed.

A good example of my dumb luck came when I jumped off a cliff into the East Fork Black River at the amazing Johnson Shut Ins State Park south of St. Louis, Mo.

My pal, Joe Tomelleri, and I were camping and touring the Ozarks one summer. The “Shut Ins” are an amazing natural waterslide created as eons of rushing river water carved and polished protruding igneous bedrock.

You should all go. But don’t jump off the cliffs as Joe and I did after watching many others. We ignorantly assumed it was safe because so many people were climbing and jumping. So up we climbed and off we jumped.

The next morning, we were up early hiking around the cliffs. I remember looking over the top and being shocked.

In the early morning, with the sun at a sharp angle and the water calm at the base of the cliff, the area below the water’s surface was visible.

There, protruding several feet out, was a rock ledge.

I happened to see a park ranger on morning patrol and asked: “Just how far below the surface of the water is that ledge?”

I was astonished when the ranger said: “It’s only a few feet down.”

“Isn’t that dangerous to the people who jump off the cliffs?” I asked.

“Extremely dangerous,” the ranger said. “We pull people off that ledge every summer. Some are seriously injured and a few have died when they don’t jump far enough out and hit it.”

I still remember the sick feeling that came over me. Just the day before I had climbed the slippery rock and jumped into the water from far too high above. I hadn’t scouted the water or asked rangers beforehand. Worse, I had ignored signs warning of the danger.

Today, if you search online for death and injuries at the Johnson Shut Ins, you’ll find a sad list of people who die there each year. Some fall to their deaths and others simply drown.

Knowing all that, I would still encourage everyone to visit the Shut Ins. I loved them. My point is to be careful. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Heed warnings. 

I always enjoy a thrill. But I want to live to brag about it. There is no glory in dying for no good reason. If you are going to risk your life, it better be to save someone else, not for clicks on social media!

Wear safety gear. Do research first. Seat belts save lives. Life jackets save lives. Speed kills.

Also, bite your tongue before thrashing someone verbally. Don’t hit send on that angry email. Say the things you always meant to say before it’s too late.

Attend every concert or recital or game or practice. And remember that no one ever uttered on their death beds: “I wish I had worked a few more hours.”

In other words: Be smart. Be nice. Don’t take your safety for granted. Don’t take your loved ones for granted. Never miss a chance to say: “I love you.”

Dad loves you.