Inspiration from Jimmy V

Last night, hubby and I were watching the Jimmy V Classic. I can remember the same time last year when I first saw the video of his speech at the ESPY awards. Casey had just gone through Chemotherapy and we didn’t know at that point what was going to happen. By, time I finished watching it I was sobbing. Last night, I watched it again and instead of feeling anxious and sad, I was inspired by his words. I was not only inspired but reminded that I have so much to be thankful for.

To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special. – Jimmy V

I have friends, family and the sweetest boy I’ve ever met in my life I get to call my husband that make me laugh everyday. Last year, I didn’t know if I’d ever get to spend another Christmas with him and I needed that reminder that every day we have is a gift. And, I am thankful that I am a thoughtful and emotional person because there are more days than than not that I have a full day. One full of laughter, thought and emotion. I am a very lucky and thankful girl.

I urge all of you, all of you, to enjoy your life, the precious moments you have. To spend each day with some laughter and some thought, to get you’re emotions going. To be enthusiastic every day and as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Nothing great could be accomplished without enthusiasm,” to keep your dreams alive in spite of problems whatever you have. The ability to be able to work hard for your dreams to come true, to become a reality. – Jimmy V

As, I reflect back on last year and all the fear and anxiety that has been replaced by hope I realized that more than one of my dreams have come true because I get to spend every day with my best friend in the whole world, more friends than I can count that I consider my chosen family, and two supportive and loving families. It brings me to tears thinking about how blessed I am. I have kept my dreams alive despite what we’ve been through and I am better person because of that.

So, thank you, Jimmy V for the inspiration and the reminder of how blessed I am in this life. He reminds me to tell my family and friends how much I love them, and hug them every time I see them. So, if you’re reading this, I probably consider you one of those people I am blessed to have in my life. Thank you.

So this Christmas, consider how lucky and blessed you are and take inspiration from a man who lived with enthusiasm for love and life until his last breath.

If you wish, you can make a donation to the V Foundation in his honor.