I have so many things to say I cant fit it all in one post! So stay tuned hahah…. But let me just say thank you to everyone who has watched and reached out and had such positive things to say! Its such a unique opportunity to share my experiences with you all, and the fact that you appreciate it is very humbling!!!
Season 6 had some amazing contestants on it, great crew members, and it was an honor to have that shared experience with all of those people and you.
I may of lasted the longest, but that was only made possible by an enormous list of people whose sacrifices and quiet, unsung heroism brought me to a position to do so.
First on the list is my beautiful wife, who more than anyone, took on the day to day grind of having her husband gone for an unknown amount of time while she dealt with two toddlers and the gauntlet of issues that arose in my absence. Trusting her strength allowed me to stay worry free as long as necessary. My family, brothers, sister, mom, and many close friends and supportive community were there so I knew I could focus on the task before me without anxiety.
Also constantly with me out there was the thought of my dad, who though he passed years ago, showed me through example how to bear indescribable hardships with an air of joy and gratitude that is a lesson impossible to teach except through example. We all will face suffering on some level, but having been shown how to navigate that with steadfastness and a constantly developing character is invaluable.
And before him, my family’s history is full of the stories of those who struggled and overcame. Could I complain about discomfort when my Assyrian grandmother watched 6 of her 7 siblings die in a genocide in the desert, or when my grandfather watched his village be burned to the ground with his father trapped inside? Could I freak out at some small misfortune when those two endured so much but were not defined by it, but instead developed into joyful, life giving people? They remained focused upwards and proactively worked to make life better for their descendants…. Gifting my dad and 10 other beloved aunts and uncles a life defined by love, hope, and faith…and by doing so granting me the same gift.
Our responsibility lies much deeper than winning, our foundations must be built on much more than strength and pride. So it is with gratitude and humility I accept all your kind words, well wishes, and praises. I am honored to have the opportunity to share with you all a bit of my experience, and glad that for some it has been, if nothing else, a fun way to vicariously experience, learn, and empathize with people in extreme situations.
