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Together, we’ll dive deep and find the strength to never give up because Great Things Take Time.

Counting down to Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 5:01 am EDT- SPRING’S OFFICIAL START! I don’t care what a groundhog said somewhere, Frankie says it’s Spring and to me, he fits the description of the small, furry, brown creature.

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Here's what's in today's email

• Lessons in Love and Strength

• Moments with Maurice

• What's Got Me Smilin'

Lessons in Love and Strength

The women in my life have always been a guiding light for me. Even when things were dark, because things have not always been this bright, I have not always been this bright, they have shown me the best path forward. If I didn’t have them in my life, there is no doubt my light would shine in a different way. 

I am very much a product of the women who raised me. My mother: the woman who birthed me and provided the foundation for my life. My grandmother: the woman who cared for me while my parents worked full time. My little sister, turned teacher, who taught me some of the biggest things in my life. Each one of them taught me many things and today I’m reminded of three specific lessons the women in my life taught me:

If you give people enough time, they can change, they just have to want to. Be there to support them through this change; don’t make them ashamed of it.

My grandmother worked through her trauma, the preconceived notions she had, and the fear she felt for her family when my dad came into our lives. I watched as she stayed stubborn and unrelenting, to eventually working through things and coming around to let her love for her family overtake her doubts and fears.

Had she cared more about her own opinions and being right than the happiness of my family and her relationship with us, I doubt my relationship with her would have been as impactful as it was. I may not have had much of a relationship with her at all. She proved that there is no age at which you can make meaningful changes. There is no role that you hold that forbids you from admitting you’re wrong and course-correcting. 

Many people, especially women, sacrifice more than you can see. Pay attention to what might not be readily visible. Appreciate the love they give and the things they put into the world.

For a period of time, my mother raised three kids on her own in a one-bedroom apartment. We never felt gaps in our lives because she worked so hard to make us feel loved, safe, and cared for. Looking back, I can’t even begin to fathom how hard that must have been, but we never knew it. The mixture of emotions she must have felt but kept hidden from us kids is overwhelming.

She smiled through everything and made what no doubt was hard work seem like something that was easy. She made so many sacrifices because she wanted to make sure that others around her were taken care of and not just okay but doing well. She was focused, had a goal, and wanted to create a loving life for us. At what cost did the stability of my brother, sister, and I come to her? To this day, she still starts our days with joy and love.

Be there for people in the way they need. Listen to how they want you to show up and when they ask for something. They don’t always need your interpretation but they do need your love. 

The classic overprotective big brother, I didn’t agree with how my sister lived her life or went about things. I thought that I knew better and that my opinions and thoughts mattered more. I wanted to support her in the way I thought she needed. But I was lucky enough to have a close enough relationship with my sister that she did not hold back from letting me know I was wrong. I was afraid to see her fail and get hurt, but perhaps I can’t call it a failure, just a different way of doing things. She didn’t need me to tell her how to live her life; she needed someone in her corner. She had everything figured out after all; I just had to trust her. It’s okay to disagree with someone and still love them.

Throughout my life, I’ve been lucky enough to experience the love of my sister, mother, and grandmother. They’ve always wanted to push me towards greatness, and no matter how chaotic it felt like life was getting, they were patient with me at every point in my life. They were there to support me with characteristics that reminded me of when I needed to course correct. When I wasn’t where I wanted to be, they were there to tell me I was on the right path.

Sometimes, you need that: a person to hold your face and tell you that everything’s going to be okay. Because it will, just maybe not in the way you think.

Moments with Maurice

If you only pause to reflect on your life for one moment today, do it now.

I’m always locked in on the news.

It was important to my grandmother to always stay informed on what was going on in the world… which meant the news was always playing in the background. It’s always felt like something I should do, one of the things that would mean I’m a successful adult. Lately, I’ve realized consuming news non-stop is doing nothing for me, in fact, it might actually be making me a worse version of myself.

Because no matter what, there is always something to smile about.

Uncle Momo Duties!

How can you not smile at these sweet faces?!

The Car That Did Me Dirty

Went to pick up a friend’s car this week while they were out of town, only to find the shop jumping the battery… never a good sign. Things were fine for the 10 minute drive… until it died at a stoplight. Can’t help but laugh at the way things work out.

Does This Pace Make My Calves Look Big?

Peloton pacing duties for United Airlines Half Marathon shakeout. There is truly nothing better than being with the community. If you don’t take an unflattering running photo, are you even working hard? (Trick question, this was a shakeout run!!)

Remember:

-Adrian