I watched a great video yesterday made by two friends of mine. They were on stage talking-to a group of people about gratitude. One of them was telling an emotional but inspiring story about his nephew Jared.
Jared was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer at the age of sixteen. Two years later he passed away. Jared’s mom showed his uncle a letter he wrote after he passed on.
Jared wrote in the letter that he was grateful for god giving him cancer and not any other members of his family. When I first heard that story I was blown away. I couldn’t believe the strength this young man had while facing death.
When I met up with his uncle he was wearing a J.J. Strong band in Jared’s memory. I asked if I could have one and haven’t taken it off since. On the back of it is the word GRATITUDE. It’s a reminder that every day you have to appreciate everything life throws you no matter how hard it is.
Gratitude reminds me of the weather. No matter what the weather does it can never win. In the winter people in my part of the world curse the heavens for the snow to go away, and in the summer they curse the same heavens for it to be cooler. It’s a lose lose situation for Mother Nature. That’s why I think in New Jersey she screws with us on purpose. We have to start appreciating the day not the weather. Yeah it’s snowing and that might stink but you’re around to enjoy it. Feel better? I sure do.
The definition of gratitude is sometimes lost in translation. It’s not just appreciating all the good things in your life. Most of us would have gratitude if we won the lottery, or got a new car. Would we have it if we lost our job? Could we have gratitude then? If you think about it the right way I believe we could. It’s all about our mindset. If we look at losing our job as an opportunity to find a better one then we could be grateful for not having it anymore.
I wasn’t grateful for the injury that ended my basketball career at the time it happened. It took a little while for me to see why I should be. Today I thank the heavens every day for it. Without the injury I wouldn’t be writing this blog right now. Remember that sometimes the rain brings a rainbow be grateful for the opportunity to see it.
I graduated high school with Jared, he was one of my best friends. He was a great guy, an awesome friend, and loved life to the fullest. Still miss the heck out of him. This is a great post, Jared would love it.