11/25/2025
From Jared:
Gratitude hits different when you’ve lived through things that could’ve broken you.
I’m thankful for a lot in my life — my clients, my gym, my friends, my family — but nothing has shaped me more than the journey with my wife and daughter.
There were moments where I honestly didn’t understand why things were happening to us. You think, “This isn’t supposed to happen to me.” When you’re standing in the middle of something traumatic, it’s impossible to see the full picture.
When Emery was little, she went in for what was supposed to be a simple procedure. During the surgery the doctor made a mistake and cut into her artery. She lost blood pressure, and everything spiraled. That led to brain damage, and eventually the cerebral palsy diagnosis. That night was the worst night of my life. I always dreamed of having a baby girl, and she was exactly that — and suddenly everything felt like it had been ripped away from us.
But with time, your perspective shifts. The facts don’t change, but the meaning does.
I started to see her for who she is, not just what she went through. And who she is has transformed me in ways I never expected.
I’m grateful for her joy — the way she genuinely loves life. She finds happiness in places the rest of us overlook. She doesn’t carry the weight of the pressure, the comparison, the nonsense that the world throws at teenagers. She’s just herself. Pure. Present. Happy.
And watching her live that way softened me in a way I didn’t even realize I needed.
What I didn’t understand at first was how much her story would impact other people. Over the years, people have told me how she changed their outlook, gave them strength, or helped them find perspective during their own struggles. She became a beacon without ever trying to be. That’s one of the biggest blessings in my life.
And yes — I’m also thankful I’ll never have to deal with the whole “boys” phase.
I’m thankful for my amazing wife — the only person who has walked every step of this exact road with me. The bond we have came from something most people will thankfully never experience. I couldn’t do any of what I do without her.
I’m thankful for our friends who would run through a wall for us. For our families who have stood with us through everything.
And every day, I’m grateful for Sevens — for our coaches, our trainers, my clients, our members, and everyone who trusts us enough to call this their home gym. What we’re building isn’t easy, but that’s what I love about it. The hard things shape you. The blessings are often hidden inside the battles.
Life hasn’t been easy, but it’s been meaningful. The battles shaped me, the blessings humbled me, and the people in my life keep me grounded. I’m thankful for all of it — every piece of the story that got us here.