Today marks the one-year anniversary of a decision that completely changed my life.
One year ago, I weighed 205 pounds. I was exhausted, unhealthy, constantly on the road, eating poorly, drinking more than I should, and relying on seven different medications for things like vertigo, acid reflux, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol. I was living at a pace that looked successful on the outside but felt wrong on the inside.
Then something shifted.
When we moved to Minnesota to spend the year with our youngest son, Tate, while he attended Shattuck-St. Mary’s, I made a decision and commitment to myself – this would become the healthiest year of my life.
And slowly, day by day, everything changed.
Over the last 365 days, I lost nearly 40 pounds. I went from a size 36 waist to a size 31. From wearing large and extra-large shirts to mediums. I started exercising every day, walking daily, drinking less, eating healthier than I ever have, and taking ownership of my health in a way I never had before.
Today, I’m in the best shape of my life.
But here’s what I learned. Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It happens daily. One choice. One walk. One workout. One healthy meal. One intentional day at a time.
In the world we live in today, where instant gratification is everywhere and answers are at our fingertips, it’s easy to lose the discipline required for long-term change. The real challenge is staying committed to the things that take time, the journeys that require consistency, patience, and daily willpower.
Three hundred and sixty-five days changed my body, my energy, and my health. And today, as I donate all of the clothes that no longer fit me, I decided I don’t want this growth journey to stop here.
I’m constantly obsessed with becoming better – a better husband, father, leader, man of faith, and human being. And while physical health was my big focus this past year, I want the next transformation to happen somewhere even more important…my heart.
So today, I’m starting a new challenge.
I’m calling it Gratitude 365.
For the next 365 days, every single day, I’m going to intentionally reach out to one person in my life. It could be a friend, colleague, mentor, client, neighbor, teammate, or acquaintance and I’m going to tell them why I’m grateful for them. I’m going to tell people what I admire about them. What I’ve learned from them. How they’ve impacted my life. Why I love them. Why they matter.
I’m going to do it in different ways so it doesn’t become an insincere habit. Some days, it may be a phone call. Some days, a handwritten note. Some days, a text message. Some days, a lunch or coffee meeting.
But every day, for 365 days, one person will know they are appreciated.
I even bought a journal today. I want to document this journey, not just who I reached out to, but what this process teaches me about gratitude, intentionality, and human connection.
Because I think there are two transformations that will happen here.
The first is obvious. I hope 365 people feel encouraged, seen, valued, and loved.
But the second transformation is the one I’m most curious about.
What happens to a person when they spend an entire year intentionally looking for the good in others?
What happens when gratitude becomes a daily discipline instead of an occasional afterthought?
I have a feeling this challenge will change me just as much as my health journey did, maybe even more.
Last year, I lost 40 pounds. Maybe this year, I will gain a fuller heart, deeper relationships, more authentic connections, and a greater appreciation for the beautiful people God has placed in my life.
So here’s to the next 365 days.
I’ll report back next year. Or, better yet, why don’t you join me on this Gratitude 365 journey. Together, we can change the hearts of others while pouring into 365 lives this next year, but equally important, we can change our own hearts and allow gratitude to become a daily part of our DNA.