STOP! Stop right now! Take the next 10-15 minutes out for the following exercise:
1. Go somewhere private where you won’t be interrupted (at my house that means locking myself in the bathroom).
2. Get out a pen and paper, or start a word file and put some soothing or upbeat music on in the background.
3. Now sit down and write out your list of things you are thankful for in your life.
If it takes more than 10-15 minutes then that’s awesome, because it should! I am tired of all the negativity in this world, so it’s time for only positive thoughts while you are in “The Positive Zone.” Don’t even think about a sarcastic or negative thought; none is allowed in this exercise.
Jot down people, places, things and events that have made a positive difference in your life this past year, whether it’s a transformational event (a new job, the birth of a new child, etc.) or the most mundane daily activity (morning coffee in the mail room with co-workers, a quiet jog, a walk with the dog).
I have had so many great experiences in my first 50 years that when I look back I can’t believe how fortunate I have been. We all tend to dwell on the negatives, but not today, pal! Today I want to celebrate the good that has happened to me even though I hardly deserve it. (Whoops, no negative thoughts, only positive!)
I want to thank the good Lord for all the blessings in my life, and that starts with my family — La Famiglia.
Growing up in ‘Sliberty (East Liberty, for those of you not from da ‘Burgh), Sunday meant pasta dinners at Big Grandma’s or Nana’s. The diners included all of my cousins, aunts, uncles and family friends we thought of as aunts and uncles.
Uncle Tommy wasn’t really my uncle, but it was a term he earned by being as much a part of the family as anyone. That tradition continues with my own children.
Uncle Ray is good friend and mentor Dr. Ray Lombra.
Uncle Paul is another good friend and mentor, Dr. Paul Cohen.
Uncle Scott is current Icers Coach Scott Balboni.
To Scott’s son A.J. and my goddaughter Taylor, I am Uncle Joe.
At the end of the day, it’s about people — family, friends, teachers, coaches, mentors. People make life so interesting and so much fun.
Yes, there are great memories on my list:
- Trips to Florida with my family, especially the year we took both grandmothers. They had never ventured that far south and, for the first time, they had experienced the Atlantic Ocean. They were in their 60s.
- The family vacation to Maui. My older brother and I sat with Diana Ross next to the pool bar for a whole afternoon.
- Trips to see the Super Bowl, the World Series, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Indianapolis 500, Penn State bowl games, the U.S. Open Golf and Tennis tournaments. They all have special memories for me.
- Traveling to Tarvisio, Italy with Team USA and standing at the top of Mt. Lassaro with one of my former Penn State hockey players and current Icers Assistant Coach Bill Downey.
- Having Matt Seybert, a THON child, a cancer survivor, an inspiration to us all, run onto the stage and jump into my arms in front of 10,000 cheering students as we kicked off the 2007 Dance Marathon.
- Walking on a crisp Sunday afternoon playing golf with Colonel Dick “Black Bart” Bartolomea and John “Jean Guy Baptiste” Segursky
- Laughing out loud at the State College Quarterbacks Club lunches along with Steve and Eileen Smith, and Jim and Janet Meister, and Herb and Nancy Graves, and the many friends I’ve made in the club.
- Walking over to the Creamery with my co-workers in Smeal when the mood hit us, and enjoying all the great variety of athletic, social and academic offerings that we have available to us in State College.
- Getting to spend time with 1980 Olympic hockey coaches Herb Brooks and Craig Patrick, UCLA legendary basketball coach John Wooden, bestselling author Harvey MacKay, Penguins coach “Badger” Bob Johnson.
- Playing hockey with Garth Brooks, chatting with Bobby Knight and Digger Phelps and Bob Costas, sharing an office with ESPN’s Beano Cook, working with Coach Paterno and all the wonderful coaches at PSU.
The most important people to me are my family members. I had the greatest childhood a kid could ever have because of my family: Mom and Pops, my brother Jan, Big Grandma and Nana (they were saints, and could they cook!), all my aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who gathered together to share life’s best moments.
My life changed forever when Miss Heidi Smith, a good friend long before she became my wife, came into my life and brought out the best in me. I know I don’t tell her this often enough, but I thank God for bringing me an angel. She is the “Wind beneath my Wings” and the “Time of my life.”
Next to my wedding day, the happiest three days of my life were when my kids were born. Each unique, each special, each one a different mix of their mother and father. They make life fun, and challenging, but never dull or commonplace! They are great kids, and I know I don’t tell them that enough!
We will travel to visit my wife’s family in New Castle and Beaver for the Holiday. I can’t wait to argue college football rankings with my nephew Eric, who recently graduated from Miami law school.
To hold my first grand-niece, Savannah, and catch up with her mom, Indiana alumna Dr. Michaelyn Notz.
To play games and chat with my nephew Travis, a former Washington and Jefferson soccer player
To talk about PSU and the business school with my niece Shannon, the favored child, who chose Penn State and is a junior in Smeal.
To catch up with brother-in-law Mike Tinstman, who is the athletic director and head boys basketball coach at Laurel High School.
To get psyched up for the wonderful dinner that waits from sisters-in-law Terri and Karen.
And, of course, to be entertained by the dogs: Sportser, the mutt, and Riley, the yellow lab.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Patriarch of the Smith Family, Francis “Smitty” Smith. He is 89 years old, looks a lot like ESPN Commentator Lou Holtz, still lives at home, just two streets away from my family, and may be one of the greatest human beings I have ever met in my life.
I know I don’t tell him “thank you” enough for serving our country in the Philippines during WWII; for being a living role model for his three daughters and all of his grandchildren; for setting an example for the kind of selfless life that too often goes unnoticed because he is such a humble and giving soul.
I hope they will remember to respect and honor their elders the way Grandpap Smitty taught them, whether he is teasing Brianna, helping Jonathon build something in his basement, or walking Ryan to the bus stop every morning. I have never met anyone who isn’t instantly impressed with Smitty and overcome by his affable personality and his humble demeanor. This Thanksgiving I want to say a special “Thank You” to Grandpap Smitty. You are my hero and I aspire to live my life as well as you have lived yours.
Yes, it’s been a wonderful life so far and I am thankful beyond words for all the people who have helped me, disciplined me, taught me, hugged me, encouraged me and laughed with me. I look forward to the future and the great things to come. Yeah, there will be potholes along the way, and not every memory will be a good one (Darn, a negative slipped in there!), but that’s why it’s important to take time out and celebrate the good in our lives.
I hope you will do this little exercise and see what treasures and small victories and great memories you uncover in your own life.
I wish you all a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!
