Happy Thanksgiving!
Food, family, and…. whatever you want to get out of it!
For me, Thanksgiving is completely different. Mainly because I am a father. But also, since I am a little older now, because of the things I have learned growing up.
So, what am I thankful for?
Life.
Sure, we all say that. But go deeper. I am thankful for the air I breathe, the planet that I exist on, and the opportunity to wake up every day and be amazing. I don’t mean that on an “I’m blessed” level. More so, how can I make an impact in someone else’s life? And how can that impact change a person’s outlook on their day or life? And, what can I do today to set myself up for success tomorrow or further down the road. Life is full of tough times, struggles, and difficult people… sure. BUT, it also has beautiful moments, caring people, and endless possibilities. So try to make every moment count. Life is shorter than we think, and the negative can get the best of us sometimes. So think about the positives and celebrate them. There is probably someone with less than you wishing to have your life.
My family!
This obviously starts with my parents, siblings, and family on my wife’s side too. But, my wife and boys are shaping who I am and who I am becoming. My wife is the only reason I am who I am today. She has looked out for me when I wasn’t looking out for myself. She has supported me in every decision I have made. She watches me leave on an airplane every other weekend to go play Monster Jam. But, most importantly, she has given me two more amazing reasons to wake up everyday… our boys!
Cruz and Cash teach me everyday not to take life to seriously. They make me laugh at the most ridiculous things when I am stressing out about my career, future, etc. The most important thing they have taught me is how to be patient. It’s a work in progress, but it’s a fun process. Being a dad is something that is beyond feelings and words, and I am thankful for every day I get to hug and kiss them, laugh with them, and be dad.
There is also a part of me that is thankful for my son’s autism therapists at Total Spectrum. My wife and I had our oldest son Cruz officially diagnosed in March this year. While it was a tough pill to swallow, we have moved forward and our son’s progression is powerful to watch. The way he is interacting with other children now, and becoming more aware of who he is is amazing to watch. No one wants to hear that their child is on the spectrum, but thankfully, there are people who want to help children just like Cruz find their full potential. It isn’t cheap, but there isn’t any amount of money in the world that will stop me from making sure my family has the best life possible.
Careers!
I am thankful for the people who have helped me in radio that I call friends. Russell Rush, Matt Bahan, Mason Schroeder, and Don Black have all had a hand in who I am today. They are my radio friends who have supported me when I didn’t deserve it. And I will be forever thankful for their knowledge, leadership, and friendship.
And, I am thankful for Monster Jam. I have always loved monster trucks. And I never in a million years thought I would be hosting stadium shows around the world for FELD Entertainment. On top of the fact that I have hosted Monster Jam events on FS1 for the last two years AND have appeared on HBO, Discovery Channel, and MTV. I have met amazing actors and actresses, but more importantly, people who have inspired me to be better every day. This is a very small industry with a family that is growing. And the people I get to meet in each city each have a different story, but we all share the same passion.
The people I have worked with and have supported me during this process I can’t thank enough. Scott Douglass, Brian Welch, Greg Whitacre, Larry Jewitt, Jessika Moury, Chriss Rossbach, Tim Rees, Eric Hoffman, and Scott Olinski are a few names. Thank you! Thank you for believing in me. It has been a pleasure to work alongside each of you.
Opportunity
I am thankful every day for opportunity. To help others. To push myself outside of my own boundaries. To be an amazing husband/father. To be. To exist. To find ways to continue to chase my dreams.
Opportunity is everywhere. And I am thankful for that. I am thankful for life. And I am thankful to have the opportunity everyday to be a part of your life. Whether it’s on the radio, on TV, in person, or in the social media world. Together, lets inspire each other to be amazing and take advantage of every opportunity we have to live this life we have together to the fullest!
