I sat down for Thanksgiving Dinner this year happy, healthy, and blessed. Thanks to great people, supportive systems, groundbreaking innovations, and a whole lot of luck, I’m fulfilled and comfortable. I’m so grateful for the joy and meaning that my family, my friends, my home, and my job bring me every day. These are the most important things in my life, and I hit the jackpot with all of them.
Nevertheless, since I’ve already written nearly 80 reflections about these “most important things,” I’m choosing to recognize a few of the much appreciated unsung heroes in my life instead. The unsung heroes in my life are those random things that either make my days easier or the special moments even better. These things didn’t get sufficiently recognized the other night at the Thanksgiving table amidst the turkey and mashed potatoes, so I felt compelled to pay these 10 things the respect they deserve. Would any of these make your list?
1. One more wedding season: With another great wedding season and a legendary Vegas Bachelor party in my rearview, I look ahead at all the 2022 Save the Dates on our fridge and think, “I’ve got one more wedding season in me.” This Grand Finale wedding season will be extra special with the opportunity to officiate the weddings of Casey & Mikey and Chelsea & Dave and to be best man for Justin. I promise to express my gratitude on the dance floor.
- Podcasts and Audiobooks- With the Podcast and Audible apps reliably delivering a treasure trove of on-demand content directly through my Airpods, I no longer mind running at 6 am, doing yardwork on cold days, or taking long flights. A special shout goes to the autobiographies from Will Smith, Matthew McConaughey, and the Obamas which all kept me company in the frigid temperatures as I raked leaves and hung Christmas lights the past four years. ‘Tis the season for a good podcast and autobiography, I guess!
- Wine after night-night- When Jordan and I survive the chaos of dinner and “night-night” with the kids, and subsequently clean the storm surge’s scattered toys, overflowing laundry, and pile of dirty dishes, there is a remedy that we often count on to bring a relaxing close to a busy day: a show, a snack, and a glass of wine. The quiet time magically transforms my co-parent and roommate into my wife and best friend as we share about our days, plan for our tomorrow, or just zone out to something mindless. As much as I love Thanksgiving dinner, nothing tastes quite as refreshing as that glass of wine after night-night.
- The home supply chain- I don’t know when Jordan does it, when she thinks about it, or how she stays on top of it, but there’s rarely a “shortage” in our home supply chain. Whether it’s stuff for the kids, Christmas gifts, or household items that I would never think of, the supplies seem to magically appear in an organized manner whenever I need them. Before the government taps Jordan to solve the worldwide bottlenecks, I need to thank her for the wizardry she has pulled at home for the three stooges.
- Sticker charts and Baby Gates- Strategically placed baby gates and a sticker chart have saved our family’s physical and mental health as we raise a whacko Jacko and a strong-minded 3-nager. It’s the little things in life that make all the difference.
- Our Architect- For Christmas last year, Jordan and I asked my Dad to help design a future home renovation for us. He dusted off his trusty drafting board and architectural skills and brought our vision to the blueprint. More than anything, I’m thankful for your patient collaboration with the “Pinterest Princess” as you two worked through the grand plan.
- Chesterbrook Academy- In an unprecedented year for childcare, we’ve had a fantastic experience at Chesterbrook. The kids always have beaming smiles at drop off and pick up, and they come home with new words, songs, and stories every day. They love their friends and their teachers, and Jordan and I love how reliable the school has been.
- The Firepit (and Firecorn)- In celebration of our Firepit turning one year old, it has become one of our favorite places in the world. Once the kids go down on a Friday or Saturday night, the monitor signal conveniently reaches our Adirondack chairs, and all the worries in the world slip away….except when I can’t get the fire roaring…and there’s Firecorn for that.
- Storyworth- For Christmas last year, I gifted Storyworth to both my Mom and Jordan’s Dad. Storyworth is a service that emails both of them a weekly writing prompt personally selected by me and my siblings. The writing prompts include stories of their childhood, family traditions, views of the world, wild stories with their friends, and achievements and failures throughout their lives. Their responses to the prompt are emailed out to our family. At the end of this year, their responses will be published in a book. This gift taught me so much about how they each grew up and how they see the world and memorialized some of their best stories for years to come. I recommend getting Storyworth for a family member that you want to learn more about.
- Financial Advice- How could I not be thankful for a firm that gave me the greenlight to do what I love, and for a team that has been so enjoyable to work with every day? I’m thankful for the opportunity to help young families and retirees navigate big financial decisions and conflicting priorities with clarity and confidence. The craft has also been so valuable for Jordan and I as we plan our own future.
As I sit down for turkey and stuffing again next year, I hope to be as thankful as I was this year. Many of these unsung heroes will likely change, but for 2021, they made the days easier, the moments better, and the future brighter. I’ll be forever grateful for that.
The Janiec Reflection 