Dear Everyone

A letter of thanks,

To all the people I've met in this crazy life. The ones I've walked by, traded a glance with, and went on about my day. The ones I've interacted with in the biggest and smallest ways.

Quick note before we begin. The pic I chose is meant to be ironic, a little sarcastic, and hopefully in a bit of good humor.

Ok, admittedly, there are times when I've felt just like the picture above. Times when I wanted to push everybody away. Because honestly, sometimes the whole world sucks. But there are other times when the world is a pretty special place. When to put it in a single word, I'm grateful. Those times, the times when my gratitude overflows my cup, are why I'm writing this thank you letter.

Now to get it out of the way. To my parents, my family, my closest friends, my kids, of course, my kids, my amazing wife, I love you all so much. I am grateful to all of you. I can not express the amount of gratitude I carry in my heart for each one of you. For all the tough times when we've been at each other. All the happy times when we've created memories. You have helped to shape me with every struggle and every achievement you've seen me through.

This letter, though. This letter is not to you. You deserve a thousand letters of thanks. But this letter is for all the everyday people who rarely get recognized. For example, the guy who blew his horn, flicked me off, and brake-checked me. After cutting across three lanes of traffic, because he almost missed his exit. It's like, do you even realize you were the one in the wrong? Alright, alright, not the point. What is the point? A heartfelt thank you to that guy for giving me a chance to practice my patience.

And to all the people in front of me when I'm late. The loudmouths who try their best to get on everyone's last nerve. The rude people at stores. The condescending clerks. The bosses who talked to me like I was three. I'm grateful to all of you for teaching me how to deal with my frustrations.

Thank you to all the strangers whose names I didn't know. Who offered help when they thought I needed it. Asked me how I was doing. Gave me a friendly wave. Or expressed in so many other ways all the really wonderful things about being human beings. You have my gratitude.

To all the people on social media at each other's throats. Thank you for reminding me that hate comes in all forms. That, just because you believe your cause is just, it doesn't give you the right to treat people like they don't deserve to be alive. I'm grateful to all of you for showing me how ugly our words can be and reminding me not to be that way.

And to the positive, uplifting people who've made me laugh at your reels, memes, and videos. To my friends and family who've shared pictures and pieces of your lives. Thank you, Thank you, you make all the negative commentary worth treading through.

For all the politicians. The snake oil salespeople selling our future. Thank you for teaching me to persevere. For helping me learn. I don't have to agree with everyone. For showing me, despite how many times you said the other side will destroy us all, that they won't. You tried really hard, but I refused to believe the lies every single one of you told. To you, I offer up not only my vote for what, in my judgment, is the best choice between very flawed people but my gratitude for making me see that we, the everyday people and not you, are the best of us.

Thank you to all the actors, the musicians, the writers who made the movies I've watched a thousand times, the songs that said how I felt, the books that opened my eyes. Thank you to the athletes who have inspired me by putting it all on the field. The everyday heroes, the first responders, the teachers, omg the teachers, you are such an improtant part of children's lives. I know you were to mine. The doctors, the nurses, I could go on naming forever, but I'll stop with my fellow Vocalites. A really big grateful, gratitude filled thank you to my Vocal friends. I love every one of you. You have made my life so much better. Reading your stories, having mine read. Honestly, Vocal is the best ten dollars a month I've ever spent just to meet all of you.

Ok, now for the not so fun part. I offer my utmost gratitude for all the people who have put up with me in my worst moments. The people who stuck by through all the times when I stumbled and still loved me. You are amazing, each and every one of you.

And, to all the people who said nope, you're not for me, and walked away. I get it. I'm not everyone's cup of tea. To you I offer a big warm thank you from the bottom of my heart for teaching me it's okay if people don't like you. Not everyone will.

Finally, to bring this all together. I just want to say, there is a lot of bad on this planet we call Earth. Racism, sexism, hate, hypocrisy, genocide, you get the point. But in my heart, as an optimist, I will always believe there is more good than bad. Thank you to all my fellow human beings who, despite everything, get along and love one another. I am grateful to every one of you I've met and look forward to meeting and getting to know so many more of you.

Sincerely,

Your fellow traveler on this road of life.