With Thanksgiving not long past and Christmas fast approaching, it’s hard not to think about life, love, and family. Sometimes we get lost in the hustle of everyday life, selfish indulgences, and career demands and we forget about all that’s important.

Occasionally we need to step back and remind ourselves what it’s all about. Remember why you draw each breath. Think about what makes you happy. Not just the kind of “I’m feeling good right now” happy, the general deep-down contentment of being truly happy and comfortable. Think about it… take 30 seconds or so and then continue.

Are you back? Did you think about it? Did you remember that you shouldn’t take it for granted? Did you realize that caring for the ones you love is more than not hurting them. Caring for those you love involves nurturing them. It involves giving more than you expect to take. It means making them feel more important than your selfish desires. That means NOTHING is more important. That’s right…. not the hockey game, not a night out with da boys, not getting a laugh from a blog post.

I’m a joker. I quite often shoot my mouth off and check for damage in the reaction. While always meant in good fun, I want to ensure to you, my many (ha) friends and readers, that there is no hidden meaning behind any of it. As a prime example. I tease my wife and son… make jokes, playful comments, dry retorts. My darling wife is the most wonderful person I’ve ever met, the most patient (being married to me for 10 years is testament to that), and by far the most beautiful. My son is strong, handsome, smart, witty, and charismatic. Nothing I ever say is intended to hurt them. But sometimes the stuff I say does hurt them. Sometimes the stuff I don’t say hurts them. Sometimes I’m an asshole.

I know I’m a lucky man. Do you know how lucky you are?