Since founding elitefts, every year I have written a Thanksgiving message. As that will never change (you’ll read this tomorrow), I reached out to the elitefts team and asked what they are thankful for.
It didn’t stop there, as that was too easy.
What I did not want was a list of things like freedom, family, and all the same generic things everyone else says. I also didn’t want big squats and 21-inch guns.
What I really wanted to know was why they are thankful for it?
I was sure to note that if this was weird or out of their comfort zone, one could just note some items to be thankful for such as squats, hot dogs, warm toilet seats or fat bar curls.
Beyond any training, political or social differences, we are all human. We all share gratitude – What we are thankful for will be different but the reasons why will demonstrate who we are more than anything else.
I am grateful that I don't have to worry about having enough food, a warm place to sleep or the means to travel and see my family.
The "why" is that there were periods in my life when each of these things were not forgone conclusions. The list of things I am grateful for is really, really long. But those things stay at the top.
I am most thankful for the loyal friends I have in my life, and actually, a few are members of this awesome team. And I don't mean friends casually, I mean the ones that stick by you when it would be easier not too. The ones who go above and beyond just to see you happy. Why? Because at the end of the day, life is all about relationships. It's easy to rush through our lives focusing on ourselves. It takes effort, thought, and a lot of heart to bend over backward for others expecting nothing in return. I am also thankful for donuts.
Plan B pills, Jameson, and good lawyers.
I'm thankful that despite my antics, there are still people who believe in me and support me. Between my family, friends, the team, and other mentors in my life, like my old NCO's in the Army, JL giving me a job at The Spot with very little experience, my boss now teaching me a trade, Dave helping me out with things before I was even on the team, everyone has invested time in me, and though it hasn't always worked out to the extent I would have liked it, nobody has given up on me yet (to my knowledge anyway), and it's helped me to continue to try to prove their effort was worth it, even through a lot of the rough patches in the past year or so.
I'm thankful for the ability to just enjoy my day to day. I see so many people always complaining about this and that, rather than focusing on what they do have. Positive friends and family have helped instill a positive outlook in me, and I'm so grateful for that.
I also thankful for ladders and cheap ass groceries on the bottom shelf.
The 'hardships' I've endured over the past two years [and I hesitate to call them that because of how insignificant they are compared to real problems] with relationships, injuries, and my career have really opened my eyes to how important friendships are and what gratitude and appreciation mean. Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, EliteFTS is my second family. David Tate, Bob Youngs, Steve Goggins, Harry Selkow, Marshall Johnson, Murph Tps, J.L. Holdsworth, Yessica Martinez (and others) are those I've confided in and leaned on in different ways and I couldn't thank you enough. I'm thankful for the support system and I'm thankful for the opportunities I've had to learn from my mistakes. I couldn't do it without the knowledge and support I've been surrounded by through the team and through my family.
This may lean a little towards the family answer, but I'm thankful for the fact that I get to be a stay-at-home-dad. My wife works her butt off as a veterinarian in civilian life and in the Army reserves which allows me the opportunity to be at home for my kids. I get to play an active role in their lives by taking them to ballet, gymnastics, band practice, etc. when a lot of dads don't have that luxury.
I'm going to have to lean towards the family as well. For the last five years of going through undergrad, EMT school and the Fire Academy, the support from my family has never wavered. From my mom, dad, sister, girlfriend or grandparents... whether it was an extra hundred bucks because I couldn't pay for rent or food, letting my dog out because I wouldn't be home, my grandparents sending me subway and oil change coupons via email...all that little shit seriously makes me so grateful for the support system that I have. I have some friends in my life who don't even talk to their parents or immediate family. I know I would be completely lost without mine.
I am thankful for my tight knit circle of those I love who embody sacrifice and steadfast commitment to personal excellence. These are the people who love me unconditionally, accept my flaws and commitment to do the things I love most. Their understanding and appreciation allows me to keep moving forward. I am also enormously thankful to be a teacher and advocate for those students who face challenges in their lives and education. I am grateful for their trust and willingness to share their successes and heartaches. We all have a different journey in life, but how we chose to walk through the challenges define us in our successes.
I'm thankful for my daughter. Being a father puts life in perspective. You learn to appreciate everything you took for granted.
I am thankful for my daughter Katelyn. I have posted about her growth and achievements (and more) for nine years in my training log as she has grown and become the perfect daughter. Straight A student, athlete, powerlifter, beautiful young lady, driven, focused and a Daddy's girl, through and through. There is nothing more important to me. I am most thankful for her.
I am thankful for being a Gramma. I never knew how full my heart could be until I became a Gramma. Being able to watch your kids have kids and see the great values in life you taught your kids passed down for generations is priceless. I hope I live long enough to become a Great Gramma too!
It's always tough to not be corny with these questions but here it goes: I am grateful for the fact that I have a roof over my head, food to eat, and a job that I love. I really mean that. I could make a LOT more money working for someone else and not have the headaches that I do, but would I be happy? I doubt it. I am fortunate enough to do what I have passion for and to have surrounded myself with a TEAM of people, including the EliteFTS team that I truly enjoy spending the majority of my day with. I am MOST grateful however for my family and that I have a healthy son. I see so many people who have kids that are sick, sometimes terminal and I look at my son who is smart, respectful, well mannered, has a great sense of humor and is healthy. That really puts things in perspective for me. If you asked me 20 years ago I would have probably said I am most grateful for my bike. Things change as you approach 50.
Thankful that all our kids are healthy and have turned out to be incredible individuals and thankful for my beautiful grandkids! Being a Grandpa is awesome!
I am thankful to have people in my life who ground me and make me laugh. For those people who see me, the good parts and the bad parts, and who push me to be better.
I'm thankful for the relationships I've built through training. I have some of my best friends only because I went to a certain gym at a certain time, and I've grown as a person by bonding with many other people who have differing opinions regarding religion, politics, and other hot-button topics, over the common theme of a barbell or personal betterment. Ultimately, we are all in it together and sometimes it takes struggle to realize it.
Although people are often thankful for their health, I can't be at this point because mine isn't good, but I continue to hope that it will be improving soon. In our business, people are often thankful for their strength or their PRs, but my current health has prevented me from gaining or even maintaining strength at this point. Regardless of this, I realize there are many people who are in far worse situations who still find ways to be thankful for what they have. So, even though my body seems to be falling apart, I am thankful for my wife, friends, and family for standing by me and for the fact that my business is still going strong. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have you will never, ever, have enough.”
2016 was the year I've had my 10th anniversary of being in remission. It's a big milestone. I wasn't sure I was going to make it through the treatment if I'm being completely honest. A lot don't.
Every year has been a big deal, but this year is really meaningful.
I got to dance ballet for the first time in almost seven years — I got my soul back in the process.
Selfish as it may be, it means the world to me to have that piece of my life back
Loaded question but I'm thankful that I'm able. I'm thankful for the people in my life that I can confide in for help and guidance. You guys have played a major role in this. Whether it's big or small, you've all made an impact in my life and I want to thank you. I'm grateful for Casey — you are my rock, my best friend. I'm thankful for lessons learned, heartaches and tough times. It has shown me the importance of giving and appreciating the time we have on this earth.
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