I could swear that we just rang in 2022. The last few years have been brutal for me, but I’m really looking forward to 2023. Why? Because of YOU and because of the journey I’m about to take. Let me explain.
It is mind blowing to me to see all of the support I get from all of you. When I was honored at halftime at this year’s ALS supporting Red Out Laker football game, a friend leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Bro, the love I’m feeling from all of these people supporting you is unbelievable. You just don’t ever see this.” He was right. But it wasn’t just the Laker football community at the game that showed me the love, it was all of you people that sent me emails, Facebook messages, made encouraging Facebook posts and comments, and even sent me cards and letters in the mail. And when those at Young With Heart asked people to help ease my large financial burden, many of you eagerly stepped up. Not feeling the love would have been impossible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The other factor in my so looking forward to this next year can be encapsulated in one word- gratitude. If there are two things I know for sure, they are that there is always something to complain about if you are looking for it, and that there is no happiness in life without gratitude. I believe gratitude to be the well from which thankfulness, kindness, and happiness springs. It is heartbreaking to me to watch the grievance industry that has populated so much of our public life and discourse. Have you ever seen a happy grievance activist? They don’t exist. Coming down with ALS at age 21, and all the horror that comes with it, I have plenty to be aggrieved and bitter about. But despite the fact that I don’t have this game of life all figured out, I have at least been wise enough to understand that the path of anger, bitterness and resentment leads one to a very ugly place. It’s not always easy, but I am actively trying to choose gratitude- the only surefire antidote to bitterness I’m aware of.
In 2002 I began writing positive notes of reflection and sending them out to my friends. I got so much affirming feedback that I began doing them almost daily and by word of mouth alone, I quickly had more than 3,000 people subscribed to these messages. In 2014, I paused to take a break, and like so many things in life, when you stop, you never start again. Reading through many of these messages I had written, I was reminded of the positive frame of mind with which I wrote and lived at the time. I got inspired by my own writings! Embracing gratitude, I have started my inspirational messages back up and want to challenge you to join me on my journey. It’s a journey of discovering (and rediscovering) how to rise above circumstance so you can live with a positive attitude in a negative world. And who doesn’t need that?
Will you come on my journey with me? If you want to live above the grind and kick ass with me, please click on the link below and subscribe to my monthly inspirational messages titled “In The Trenches.” You can unsubscribe at any time.
In the trenches and eager to get started with you,
Coach Jeff