The Best of Everything
When I reflect on my life, I am baffled by the amount of times I have been blessed with the best of everything. I watched Peyton Manning as my quarterback growing up only to follow it with the next best replacement after him in Andrew Luck. I not only got to meet both Peyton and Andrew on the field, I worked for the team for four seasons. When it comes to football - I’ve had the best of everything.
I live in a safe, educated, and mostly comfortable middle class community. The suburb has been voted the best in America multiple times by national publications. My high school had a planetarium and a fully operational radio station next to an equally operational 24/7 TV station. Follow that up with a private college education in Indianapolis where every major event and conference across the country is held. When it comes to education and networking - I’ve had the best of everything.
My upbringing was filled with joy, including a supportive and passionate family who had empathy for others. As an only child, I got all the attention from the best parents anyone could ask for in this life. They made it their mission as parents to best position me for the future. Growing up around a musician and a writer, it’s no surprise I drew an interest in art. But when it comes to parenting and support for my dreams - I’ve had the best of everything.
My professional life has been paved with phenomenal opportunities to network with others in my field. But seeing a fellow Hoosier like David Letterman on the screen as a kid and hearing my dad on The Bob & Tom Show makes me realize I’ve had the best of everything.
Even when it comes to my life experience, I’ve had the best of everything. Born in 1994 to see and feel the prosperity of the late ‘90’s into the 2000’s. Still young enough to not be consumed with 9/11 and not fully understand what went on during those years. Only to have hope restored when Barack Obama was elected during my 7th grade year. The first vote I ever casted was for Obama’s second term, one of the proudest actions I have ever taken in this life. Barack Obama is class personified and is the greatest POTUS of my lifetime. He wasn’t perfect, but for what he was handed, including a system that worked against him, he left the American people in a better place than before he came in. When it comes to seeing a President of the United States that keeps his cool, I know with Obama - I’ve seen the best.
The next election, I had the joy of voting for Hilary Clinton who should have been elected as the first woman President of the United States.
Follow that up with living through the Trump era - which was FUCKING crazy.
Yes, I said it. Cause it’s true. Which is why Trump’s time in the White House stings that much more. We followed up a brilliant and empathetic leader with a traitor and coward who tried to overthrow American democracy. We picked him over the most qualified person to be POTUS in the history of the republic. Somehow, that man is still walking free today, holding rallies routinely with more voter suppression laws getting drafted everyday.
For the first time in my life, I got to see the worst the United States could do & how quickly circumstances can change for a country when the wrong person gets elected.
We’re still getting over a Trump hangover of sorts too with more variants of COVID-19 likely on the way and the midterms around the corner. The DOJ is literally running out of time to hold him accountable too with Trump approaching 76 years old.
The last vote taken in 2020 elected the first woman of color and of Asian descent as VP by the way. So, it’s just funny how every election to this point in my lifetime has been a first or major shift in societal norms. Democracy as an idea seems to be on the ballot this time and is being actively battled for in 2022.
When it comes to newsworthy events, there is no shortage of them and I’ve lived through many that folks will talk about in the future. I have plenty more to give and am not going anywhere, but if I accomplish nothing else in this business, I have been as close to greatness as one can get in a career. I’ve witnessed as many unprecedented historical events and moments of crisis as a 27 year old man can.
The exciting part is that I’m only 27 - getting better in spirit, body and mind everyday.
I have hope that better days are coming - keep the faith!
Peace & Love -
JBK