2019 and Gratitude

12 months. 365 days. 2019, you have provided an incredible journey.

63 University presentations, 57 Middle School & High School presentations, 33 Military Presentations, 5 Corporate programs, and 1 major association conference. All in 2019.

2019 saw us say goodbye to our organization’s name of 17 years - The Date Safe Project and say hello to our new name - The Center for Respect. The new name has helped open more doors for us - including helping businesses and associations realize how we can serve them. 

And so 2019 saw us offer our first programs for corporations and associations - focused on helping organizational leaders create a culture of respect. Thankfully those programs received really strong feedback from CEOs and leaders around the country.

In the 149 presentations given in 2019, there were soo many highs. Some days a high is receiving an email from someone who was in your audience sharing how they were personally impacted in the most positive of ways. Some days the high is reading the feedback participants provided in our post-event evaluation we provide all our clients. Some days the high is someone in your audience coming up and sharing how they saw you speak many, many years ago - AND how they’ve made certain choices in their life based on what we shared (and how grateful they are for those choices). 

149 presentations means you also have some days that can provide their challenges. Whether it be weather conditions impacting travel; speaking conditions that are not ideal (dark rooms, bad sound systems, etc…); audiences who have predetermined that they do not want to be at your program (while thankfully we’ve learned how to overcome those barriers, having them still isn’t always fun); and the one challenge that is truly the toughest: when I feel I could have done much better. While I am thankful I can usually only look back on a couple of those moments each year, those couple still hurt. When you set high standards, you want to exceed them (not just meet them). Even when the client may be thrilled, you may feel you could have done better. And then you remind yourself that those high standards that are self-imposed is what keeps you continually working on getting better every day you can. You do not settle. You do not get complacent with your content or your delivery. A simple 1% improvement in each presentation brings you 100% improvement in one year. Keep pushing the boundaries and make it fun in the process (for me and the audiences). 

Sometimes challenges are personal situations - whether it be worrying about something you really shouldn’t worry about and/or you have no control over. Or maybe its friction in a relationship you care deeply about. Or maybe its simply taking care of your own energy sources. Maybe it's loving yourself in the moments you are tired or were not your best self to another person. In those moments, understanding you make mistakes - you are fallible - is important and to not feel shame. You are human. Love the totality of the human experience. 

With all that said, 2019 for me means being GRATEFUL. Grateful for all those incredible professionals and leaders who believed in me and what I share so much so that they brought me to their schools, campuses, military installations, corporations, associations and events. THANK YOU!!

Thank you to every audience member who gave me 45 minutes, 1 hr, 90 minutes, or 3 hours of your time for me to share with you. 

I am grateful for the sensational team who makes all of my work happen each day. From Holly, my travel agent, to Paul our podcast producer to Flora who helps with social media, to Michael who helps with graphics and design to Chris who helps with all of our web needs to Brad who helps with financials and many more professionals.

Grateful for a teammate in Rita (also an amazing sister) that ensures every client knows they are absolutely a priority and that she will do whatever takes to make their jobs easier. And in doing so, Rita makes my job 100 times easier. 

Grateful for a partner, Karen (also my wife), who works hard to get every shipment out (shirts, bookkeeping, apparel, DVDs, curriculum, promotions, etc…) while also taking care of our bookkeeping. And who continually cheers me on - no matter how much I’m on the road and away. And who brings a smile to my face every night we FaceTime with each other…no matter where I am in the world.

Grateful for my parents, my sisters (and their families - partners, nieces, nephews), my cousins, Aunts and Uncles, and all my in-laws who continually are a strong force of encouragement and love. When it comes to family, wow I have sooo much to be grateful for.

Grateful for friends who are like family. Many of those friends are also speakers - whom provide me a brotherhood and sisterhood that get what I do and get what life on the road can be like. Whether we speak multiple days a week or a month, we know we have each others’ backs.

Grateful for my sons and every ounce of time I get with them, their partners, and yes their children. Yes 2019 made me a Grandpa and WOW what a gift. His smile is contagious. When your sons are grown adults, you truly appreciate every chance you get to spend with them in any capacity they choose. 

Grateful for all the FUN - from Croatia to Paris to singing along at Lionel Richie concert to being absolutely moved by a Broadway show to sitting on my kayak in the middle of the lake taking in the sunrise to sitting on the dock at night watching a gorgeous sunset to celebrating holidays with those who I have great love for.

Grateful for you. If you are reading this post, we have been connected in some way and thus you are in my presence. You are a gift and thus a gift to me. THANK YOU.

As 2019 wraps up, may we each take time to sit in silence and to be content in that silence. May we take time to fulfill our emotional, intellectual, and spiritual souls. May we nourish our brains and our bodies. May we rejuvenate our essence through self-compassion and self-love. May we take time with loved ones to treasure the gift each of them is to our us and our world.

May we sing. May we DANCE!!! Tonight, I’m on my final flight for 2019 - heading home. I already danced in my airplane seat. Did people see me? Did they judge me? Maybe. I really don’t know. And it doesn’t matter. I dance because I choose to dance!!

As for 2020, I look forward to you - whether it be spending time together in person or virtually. But for now, I’ll sit in 2019 treasuring today. This moment. 

Love, Mike.