I am forty and damn if I am not lucky to see it. Or blessed. Use whatever word comes to mind when you think of what I have been through and what I have gained.

Milestones typically prompt reflection. I am no different and have been thinking quite a bit about the immense gratitude I have. When I do an inventory of the last few years, the amount of good is truly unfathomable.

On September 6, 2018 I prayed relentlessly for my life to be spared and it was!

With every surgery and hour of therapy due to my injuries I anxiously awaited results. Would I ever throw a football again? Would I ever gesture “thumbs up”? Would I run again? YES! Yes, I would!

And the single most important question that consumed by brain on September 6th, would I ever see my precious family again? A resounding yes and the single most joyous moment of my life!

And if my family and health were not enough, I am forever grateful for the many ways you have supported Whitney/Strong, my opportunity to make lasting change by preventing gun violence. 

The last three years alone give me so much to be grateful for.

There are memories of herculean efforts, like the time my friends threw together the website, the donor platform, our logo, and more, all within three weeks of the shooting.

I appreciate all the very skilled friends turned volunteers who have donated their time to help with the many ideas our team dreams up. Like the time we decided to move A Night for Life virtual… with no production experience… in a pandemic. What a memory!

I am so grateful for friends that believe so strongly in our work that they consistently and generously donate to the mission. Unlike many non-profits during this pandemic, we have been blessed to grow our team and our programs.

I share all this for two reasons.

1. I want you to know how much you have impacted my life. Please take a minute to pat yourself on the back and say, “job well done.”. 

2. I want to encourage you at this very difficult moment in our history to focus on gratitude and give it a chance to change your life like it has for me.

My kids and I were watching a movie with a bittersweet ending and I couldn’t help but feel connected to this quote.

“What I mean is, things like that happen. They may seem mighty cruel and unfair, but that’s how life is a part of the time. But that is not the only way life is. A part of the time it is mighty good. And a woman (I changed; I am a woman after all) cannot afford to waste all the good part worrying about the bad parts. That makes it all bad.”

THANK YOU for giving me so much good. I carry it with me as I turn 40 and forever. It will continue to fuel me as we do the work necessary to see gun violence end.

Gratefully,

Whitney