10/24/2026
I’ve been thinking…
I’ve been thinking a lot about sacrifice lately.
The sacrifices we make to build the lives we dream of. The long hours, sleepless nights, missed opportunities, and time spent away from the ones we love. All in hopes that someday we’ll look back and say it was worth it.
The other night, something as simple as 15 minutes playing fetch with Reagan made me think about all of that a little differently.
Life has been busy. Between working 65–75 hours a week at the plant and with GRT, trying to maintain a social life, and finding enough time to rest, there just haven’t been enough hours in the day.
And somewhere in the middle of all that, there’s Reagan.
The same girl who’s been by my side through so much of this journey. The one who’s watched me chase my dreams, patiently waiting for the moments when she gets to be the center of my attention again.
That evening, she was in a mood. Nothing terrible, but I knew she needed something from me. And truthfully, I knew exactly what it was.
My time.
So I grabbed a bumper, we headed outside, and for 15 minutes, we played fetch.
As I stood there watching her retrieve that bumper, I started thinking about everything I’ve been working toward. The goals I’ve set, the progress I’ve made, and the sacrifices it’s taken to get here.
Then I looked back at Reagan.
There she was, bumper in her mouth, tail wagging, ready for another throw.
She doesn’t know how many hours I’ve worked, what bills need paid, or what goals I’m trying to accomplish. She doesn’t care how successful GRT becomes or what tomorrow’s schedule looks like.
She just knows that, for those 15 minutes, she had my attention. And that was enough.
And that’s when something really hit me.
I know I’m not the only person trying to balance the life I’m building with the life I’m living.
Maybe you’re working overtime to provide for your family. Maybe you’re building a business, pursuing a career, going to school, or simply doing everything you can to make tomorrow a little better than today.
And maybe, somewhere in the middle of all that, there’s someone patiently waiting for a little more of your time.
Your spouse. Your kids. Your family. Your dog.
If that’s you, I hope you know you’re not alone.
We’re all trying to figure it out. Trying to make something of ourselves while still being present for the ones who make it all worthwhile.
And sometimes, in the pursuit of giving them a better tomorrow, we forget how much our presence means to them today.
I’m certainly guilty of it.
But the other night reminded me that being successful isn’t just about what we accomplish. It’s also about the moments we make time for along the way.
So keep chasing those dreams. Keep working hard. Keep building a life you’re proud of.
Just remember to occasionally put the to-do list down and be present with the ones who are cheering you on, even if they don’t understand what you’re working toward.
Because while we’re busy building a life for tomorrow, someone we love is hoping to be part of our today.”
