Subscribe to my newsletter - the Step Up! You'll get an inside look into my thoughts, mental models, and ways of going about life - with the goal of helping you do the same. Take the first step and join me on this journey. Newsletter every Thursday at 4:30pm CST.
The Step Up - Vol. 15: You Are Blessed
Vol. 15: You Are BlessedI had another newsletter written for today, but this one feels more timely. This past weekend, I went on vacation to Breckenridge, CO with Ashley and her family, and it was our first time skiing! We had a blast, but there was one moment that was truly sobering. One night we were heading to dinner and struggling to choose where we wanted to eat. When we got to the elevator, we ended up next to a resort worker from Jamaica. Ashley asked how her family was faring from the recent hurricane, and she told us that while most of her family was stable and recovering, she lost her son 4 months ago, and you could tell she was holding back tears while saying it. That stopped all of us in our tracks. Here we were - on vacation - going back and forth over which restaurant we were going to while this kind, hard-working woman from another country, who lost her son just 4 months ago, was working full-time at a tourist resort to provide for her family back home who is recovering from a devastating hurricane. It puts things into perspective. All Ashley could say afterward was "How blessed are we?" You. Me. We are blessed. In so many ways. If you stressed over getting all of your Christmas gifts in time, but never had to factor in the money to buy them, you are blessed. If you have people to celebrate the holidays with, you are blessed. If the cold is just an inconvenience between you and your car, you are blessed. If you have a car, you are blessed. If you're reading this on your own computer or phone, you are blessed. If you don't have to worry about whether you'll have for dinner or not, you are blessed. If you can walk, talk, or breath without any struggles, you are blessed. If you are alive, you are blessed. Christmas and the holiday season are a reminder that we are blessed. A time when everyone can come together in joy and love. Don't take for granted what you have. You are blessed. Merry Christmas! See you next Thursday, Steppers. We will succeed, Grayson Song of the Week:
Blonde is my favorite album of all time, and it came out a few days after the 2016 Flood. The first time I listened to the album, I was on my mattress in the living room because my room was the only one that got water in it. As I laid there, in the middle of my dark living room, with both headphones in, listening to Self Controls' orchestral ensemble of Frank's vocals layered on top of each other, I realized that even in the dark, uncomfortable, stressful points in life, there is beauty. There are blessings. |
Grayson Stepanek
Subscribe to my newsletter - the Step Up! You'll get an inside look into my thoughts, mental models, and ways of going about life - with the goal of helping you do the same. Take the first step and join me on this journey. Newsletter every Thursday at 4:30pm CST.
Vol. 19: The Price of Love Whiskers (table), Oliver (chair), & Buttons (rug) This week has been a sobering reminder about love and it's painful yet worthwhile price. This is not a pity piece, but it will be darker, longer, and more vulnerable than usual, and I hope you can find solace in it. My Mom texted me on Tuesday to stop by the house when I could. She had a feeling our cat Buttons wasn't going to live much longer. This wasn't the first time I got this text from her - the same happened...
Vol. 19: What is a True Leader? I'm blessed to hold various leadership positions where I have the opportunity to guide, empower, and inspire others. So obviously, I think a lot about leadership. It matters a lot to me. It matters a lot to the world. True leaders drive humanity forward. They make progress. They empower others to achieve unthinkable things. We owe the progress of humanity to great leaders throughout history who took it upon themselves to guide and empower others. But false...
Vol. 17: The One Thing You Can Always Control As we embark on our goals this year, I'd love to help focus our energy on things that drive us forward. Namely, things we can control, and not things we can't. In this chaotic world, there's a lot of things we can't control, both good and bad. Unexplained tragedies, unexpected opportunities, and everything in between. It's important that we recognize what is in our control and what isn't so that we can best allocate our time and energy to create...