Appreciate All That Life Gives You & Worry Less

We always hear the saying “What knocks you down can only make you stronger.” Well after this past week, I know a lot of people who should be some of the strongest people on the planet. After wrestling, going through numerous surgeries, and battling epilepsy, I thought I could handle anything. I was wrong by a long shot. Nothing in this world can prepare you for when a best friend passes away.

Nick and I have been best friends since the 2nd grade. From little league baseball to high school events, we were always hanging around. He was that kid in the room with the brightest smile making everyone feel welcome. Nick cared about everyone he met and would do anything in the world to make people laugh. But for me, Nick meant something else.

My seizures came back in high school and Nick was right there to help me every time something didn’t feel right. Whether it was during the school day or in wrestling practice, he gave me a sense of comfort. People battling a disability know how important a sense of comfort is. When I was down after having a seizure he would quickly find a way to make me laugh. Just the way he said stuff made me laugh. He truly carried me through high school with everything I had going on. I owe Nick so much for everything he did in our 24 years.

This past week showed how inspirational one person can be. Nick touched so many people’s hearts, and we saw the result of that this past week. I do know that Nick was watching over all of us this past week because he did what he did best; bring people together. He allowed old high school friends to meet up again, college friends to reunite, and people who hadn’t seen each other in a while to be able to catch up because of Nick.

We worry about our disability every day when we should be thankful for another day. It’s not worth worrying about anything in your life. Live each day to the fullest and be thankful for what you have.