In my 40 Years...

For those of you that are looking for the next business strategy or career article, this is not for you. I'm taking a step back because I've never heard of somebody that says "I wish I worked more" when they're laying on their deathbed. I turned 40 a couple of days ago. For those that are younger, I might seem old. For those that are older, I might seem young. I've never really felt young or old... I've only felt the gravity of how short life is after you see how quickly a year passes by. But looking back over my 40 years on this earth, I feel like I've experienced enough blessings to last a lifetime. It's these blessings that I wanted to share with each of you if only to give you an opportunity to reflect in the hope that we never look back at the end of our lives and say "I wish I would have done things differently."

They say that there are two lotteries that you play in life; the family and the country to which you're born. I won both of those. They say that the rest is what you make it. I always loved Samuel Adam's statue sitting outside of Faneuil Hall in Boston. The inscriptions on each of the four panels of the pedestal are as follows: 'Samuel Adams 1722-1803 - A Patriot - He organized the Revolution, and signed the Declaration of Independence. Governor - A True Leader of the People. A statesman, incorruptible and fearless.' I'm not quite there Sam, but I have another lifetime to live.

I've been married to the love of my life for over 16 years and have two amazing boys. I've experienced almost losing both of them. I've moved 9 times in my life and 7 over those 16 years. My parents had to sign for me to join the Air Force because I wasn't considered an adult, and I'm now in my 22nd year of service to this great nation and I'm blessed with the family I've earned. I've had the unfortunate honor of losing friends too early in life that have also served. I've had the blessing of working with and learning from some of the most impressive people on this planet. I've seen the power of community as we settle into new areas and learned the challenge of earning a new friend and their trust.

I've been to 49 of the 50 states. I've flown on 1,000 flights and have stayed in hotels for well over 3 years of my life... that's far too many goodbyes for one lifetime. I ran in the junior Olympics right outside of Venice, played pond hockey on Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies. I've served orphans in Russia, I've visited my mother's Italian homeland and the house in which she was born. Dozens of people have afforded me the honor of baptizing them. I've mentored over 50 students into the Air Force Academy. I've seen my Dad bench press so much weight it actually bent the bar. I've skated with Gordie Howe. I've had a classmate tutor me in Political Science that later became a NY State Senator. I've been laid-off twice... and found both a new gear in my fighting spirit to grow to the next level and the power of having trusted people around you. I have friends and family that never gave up on me.?I've learned a profound and deep love for humanity from my Lord and savior and have the opportunity to practice that on the people in my life.

I'm so blessed, I'm exhausted; and every one of these amazing blessings screams to me to soak up every last moment of every last day. So here's to 40! I should be 85. I feel like I'm 25. And I have a lifetime to hit that missing state and catch up to Sam Adams. I'm grateful for every second I have here... and I hope you are too. Let's make the most of each sunrise and sunset.