My wife and I are at the doctor yesterday (the amazing Brian Ipsen), with my 14 year old daughter. She hurt her back playing volleyball over a month ago and has been in pain ever since. We have had x-rays, doctors visits, and an MRI and were hoping yesterday to walk in and gain a full understanding of the problem. Is it serious? Will she be able to continue playing sports? The images didn’t tell us everything we needed to know so now we are going to have to get a CT scan and wait a few more weeks for the diagnosis.  My daughter was pretty bummed out as her basketball and volleyball teams continue on without her. After we let that sink in we decided that this was actually good news because there was no real bad news.

Today as you reflect on the blessings in your life and give thanks for all of the great things you have going on, don’t stop there. Shine a light on your problems and find the positive side of those. Consider the bad things that have happened to you this year personally and professionally and give some thought to how they could have easily been worse. Has the pain you have endured this year from all of the junk made you a stronger person? Has it given you some clarity of vision on something that can help you in the future? If you are having trouble finding the good, then give thanks for those friends in your life that have helped you navigate through the dark and out of the stormy water. One of my best buddies Mandy Ciotti reminded me this morning that “friends give you a shoulder to cry on, but your best friends are ready with a shovel to hurt the person that made you cry.” Send out some love today for those people holding the shovel. 🙂

I want you all to know that I am grateful for you. It means a lot to me that people take the time to pull this blog up and give it a read. From my family to yours we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving and ask you to please say a prayer that the Cowboys beat the Redskins later today. Get out the stretchy pants and have a great holiday everybody!