Ha, you’d think so. Somehow I’m still the low man on the totem pole in the friend group, tho. One buddy did a few tours in Afghanistan. He’s got stories that make your palms sweaty just listening to them. Another is a professional extreme sports competitor and owns his own martial arts studio. Two of my besties, husband and wife, she was the captain of a highly ranked roller derby team, he was the coach. Sheesh, just my luck, can’t impress people like that. 😅

What’s wild to me though is like no matter how much stuff people go through in their lives, it’s still so easy to lose sight of one’s own history. The day to day struggles of life are often so all encompassing. The immediacy seems to blot out everything else. Even a decorated veteran, a nationally ranked athlete, or just some bozo who’s got the luck of fools running through his veins… still get lost in the fog of everyday life along with everyone else who’s fighting their own battles.

That’s why I think it’s important for people, especially when they’re down, to stop for a moment and take stock of all the hardships they’ve overcome and all the things there are to be thankful for.

Shit, I know I’m getting old now, waxing philosophical unprompted on a random comment thread. I’m gonna put a cork in it now.