I turned 25 this past week. At long last, I can rent a car. This is what dreams are made of.
You know how I know I’m getting old? I tried a diet soda the other day and actually enjoyed it. I’m pretty ashamed to admit that. Darn you, Wild Cherry Pepsi Zero Sugar.
I had an amazing birthday thanks to beautiful Savannah, who spoiled me like crazy. We watched movies together, ate at Five Guys and went to the Salt Lake Bees game. It was a fun day that I’ll always remember.
Savannah got me a set of new golf clubs for my birthday, so now I can embrace my mid-20s male duty of taking up golf — and sucking at it. If anyone reading this ever wants to hit the links and see the all-time most golf balls lost in a round, I’m always down to play.
As I reflect on my past quarter-century on earth, I’m filled with a ton of gratitude. I thought that might be something fun to write about.
Here are 25 things I’m grateful for. Whether they’re big or small, simple or profound, I’m grateful for it all.
I’m grateful for parents who have loved and supported me from before they even knew me.
I’m grateful for a brother and sister who made growing up so much fun.
I’m grateful for all of the work and effort my Mom put in to give us a happy, memorable childhood, even when her health was in distress.
I’m grateful that my Mom is still alive today and how her continued heart issues helped me to know that miracles never cease.
I’m grateful that my Dad prioritized balance in life and made it abundantly clear that we mattered most to him.
I’m grateful for movies, sporting events, road trips, going out to eat and all the other good times spent with my Dad, all of which I hope to share with my own sons someday.
I’m grateful for grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who I love so much. I have a vivid memory of being at Grandma and Grandpa Payne’s house as a young boy with all of my extended family, and before we parted ways at the end of the night, we all sang “Families Can Be Together Forever” together and had a closing prayer. I remember looking around at everyone as we sang and thinking, “We really are going to be together forever.” I knew it then, and I know it now.
I’m grateful to have grown up in such a cool place. Northern Virginia will always be home, and I’ll always be proud to be a “Son of Washington.”
I’m grateful for the Church leaders I had as a youth. I received a lot of selfless service growing up in the McLean 1st ward, all of which pointed me to the Savior and helped me learn how to be more like Him. So many different people (they know who they are) ministered to me, were examples to me and made me feel loved when I really needed it. I hope to be the same force for good throughout my life, especially to youth who feel anxious and alone like I sometimes did.
I’m grateful for all the CDs my Dad would play as we drove around in his car, introducing me to incredible musical talents such as Rush, Van Halen, Boston, Led Zeppelin, the Cars, Cheap Trick and many more to help me develop a strong love for 70s and 80s rock.
I’m grateful for the Oriole Park stadium DJ who played The Replacements’ “Alex Chilton” between innings of a June 2014 game I attended. Hearing the song’s opening guitar riff blast out of the speakers gave me a sudden, rabid appetite for alternative and new wave music, driven by the likes of the Replacements, the Smiths, New Order, Third Eye Blind, the Goo Goo Dolls and of course Blink-182. Good music has made my life so much richer.
I’m grateful for my lifelong love of the Orioles and Redskins/Football Team/Commanders. Those teams haven’t given me a lot to cheer for over the past 25 years — in fact, they’ve both been rather horrific for the majority of my life — but sticking with them has taught me so much about the joy that comes from loyalty, having faith in good things to come and pressing forward with hope. All of those lessons have carried me throughout various trials in my life, and the day the O’s and Skins finally hoist a championship trophy will be the day I cry the most tears of joy anyone has ever seen.
I’m grateful to have grown up playing baseball, which taught me hundreds of life lessons and shaped who I am today. I’m also grateful that I never made the high school baseball team. I grew up dreaming of someday playing for McLean, so failing to do so was truly devastating for me. But looking back, I’m so glad it never happened. Had I played high school baseball, I would have never realized my passion for sportswriting. I probably wouldn’t have gotten into BYU. I wouldn’t have been able to work as much during high school to save up for my mission. My life would look so much different today if I had made the JV team all those years ago, and I’m grateful to have had such an experience early in life to teach me that God has a perfect plan and always knows what’s best for us in the end. Also, playing Babe Ruth League baseball with “the Herd” was way more fun than playing for McLean ever would have been.
I’m grateful for the teachers I had who saw something in my writing and encouraged me to further pursue it. My junior year English teacher at McLean, Ms. Billingsley, once plopped one of my school newspaper articles on my desk during class and said, “You could do this for a living, you know.” She wasn’t the only one to have such faith in me. I could name plenty of other similar experiences and how they built my confidence to chase this sportswriting dream of mine. Such support was an incredible blessing.
I’m grateful for childhood, high school, college and mission friends who are still in my life, whether they be near or far. One of the sweetest feelings is seeing someone you love after so long and being able to pick up right where you left off with them. It’s a true gift from heaven.
I’m grateful for the BYU admissions officer who must have pressed the wrong button and accidentally accepted me to my dream school back in 2018. Thank you. You changed my life.
I’m grateful to have chosen Merrill Hall as my freshman dorm at BYU, where I made some friends on the very first day who are still my brothers today. It’s nothing short of a miracle that our group has stuck together for this long, let alone that we all found each other in the first place. Lately, the Merrill Men™ have begun moving out of Provo one by one and scattering across the country. Someday I’ll be the last man standing in Utah. It’s strange to see so many friends leaving and sad to know we’ll never all be living together in such close proximity again, but our bond will never be broken. We’re brothers for life. During tough, lonely days in high school, I remember always telling myself, “If I can get through this and get into BYU, I’ll find my people there.” I’m so glad I did.
I’m grateful to have served the first half of my mission in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a land filled with steak, fried chicken, pasta, ice cream and people who love basketball and The Simpsons. But more importantly, serving there was where I grew into a man and learned to fully rely on God. I could go on and on — and someday I will — but the day I opened my mission call and saw “Argentina Buenos Aires South,” I had the most unmistakable feeling that it was the exact location where I was always meant to serve. Every day I spent there showed me how true that feeling really was.
I’m grateful that the pandemic in 2020 sent me back home from Argentina for a brief “inter-mission,” where I was able to spend two more months with my Grandpa before he passed away. Had it not been for COVID, I wouldn’t have had that precious time with him. What a blessing.
I’m grateful that I was reassigned to spend the last half of my mission in Sandy, Utah, better known as The Celestial City™. It was the greatest. Seriously, until I married Savannah, the most joy I’d ever felt in my life was as a missionary in Sandy. I had no idea when I arrived in Argentina that I’d end my mission in Utah, but it was so perfect. Only God could have known and orchestrated that. It was an honor to serve in His army.
I’m grateful for the experience of having cancer. It was scary and painful, but it was also one of the most sacred experiences of my life. Christ was with me every step of the way. Going through cancer, chemotherapy and recovery made me a happier person. It gave me a greater desire to get more out of my life and serve others. It was what I absolutely needed, and I’m grateful that God loved me enough to put me through something so hard just so I could grow into something more. That’s the whole point of following Christ’s teachings: when hard things happen, not only does He help us get through them, but He uses the experience to help us become more capable of feeling His joy in our lives.
I’m grateful for my marriage to Savannah, all the miracles that allowed me to meet her, how she came into my life when I needed her most, how God guided our courtship and dating, the shared experience of realizing our love was meant to be eternal, being able to be sealed in the temple and the sweet, lovely life we’re building together. She is the perfect girl for me and everything I’ve ever wanted. I fell in love with her the moment we met. I can’t believe we get to be together forever. It’s the absolute greatest blessing. I love her so much.
I’m grateful that Savannah’s family has welcomed me in as if I was always meant to be with them. They’re so awesome. The first time Savannah took me to her parents’ house, I remember thinking, “This is the kind of family I want to marry into.” I’m really grateful that I did.
I’m grateful to work for the Deseret News, living my dream of being a sportswriter. I really, really love my job. Every day is such a thrill when you make a career out of your passion. I can’t wait for what the future has in store.
I’m grateful for life, because a good day is any day that you’re alive. I don’t know if younger me would have ever expected life to look like this at age 25, but it’s turned out even better than I could have imagined. God has been really good to me, and I’m so grateful.
Bonus: I’m grateful for you — yes, you — for reading this all the way to the end. Way to go! I hope you don’t unsubscribe someday!
