Connecting the Dots

Since the first of January, I’ve been counting down to my 40th birthday on October 20th. Some people are surprised when I tell them I’m not dreading the milestone — I’m excited for what lies ahead.

The quote above sums up why: it reminds me that while reflection is valuable, the real gift is the opportunity to keep moving forward.

As I look back on my first 40 years — and look ahead to the next 50… 60?! — I can’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude.

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What I’m Grateful For

🏡 Family

I’m grateful for a happy and healthy family — a wife and two kids who, despite being night owls (and me definitely not), make life infinitely funnier, louder, more loving, and more meaningful.

💼 Purpose

I’m grateful to do work I love — both professionally and civically. Serving in the military and now as a civil servant has helped me cement my core values: authenticity, compassion, courage, and discipline.

Serving on the city council has given me a chance to put those values into action to make our city a better place to live, work, and raise a family. It’s been challenging — but an absolute blast.

❤️ Family

I’m grateful to still have my mom, always ready to make me laugh (or roll my eyes…), and my brother, who makes me proud every single day.

🤝 Friendship

I’m grateful for the friends I’ve made along the way. The quote below really makes me reflect on how I build and nurture relationships:

“People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

When you figure out which it is, you’ll know exactly what to do.”

— Unknown

If life has taught me one thing, it’s that good friendships are rare — and you know them when you see them.

💪 Health

I’m grateful that despite putting a fair number of “city miles” on my body (and maybe consuming too much caffeine), most days I feel pretty good.

🏋️‍♂️ Challenge

I’m grateful I still love to push myself physically. I may not be setting any world records, but I’m fired up to compete as a Master’s strongman and powerlifter — and maybe even jump into a triathlon or a jiu-jitsu tournament.

🌟 Encouragement

I’m grateful for the people who continue to believe in me. On the tired days, when I question if my efforts are in vain, someone always shows up to remind me otherwise — and that means the world.

☀️ Optimism

Finally, I’m grateful that I’m still optimistic about the future. Tomorrow isn’t promised, but we’ll face it together. And that thought alone makes me want to jump out of bed every morning.

Be well,

Mike