Ten Reasons I'm Thankful in 2020

There's been so much heartache and loss during this pandemic that sometimes its easy to overlook the good things that we have in our lives.

We have a tradition in our family that we go around the Thanksgiving table and everyone shares what they are thankful for in their lives.

I take it a step further. Each night, I write in my journal something that I am grateful for at this point in my journey.

On this Thanksgiving Eve, I'd like to share some of the things that happened in 2020 for which I am thankful.

1. The health and wellness of my family. I do not take it for granted that up to this point of the pandemic, my family of four, my parents, my sister's family, all of my in-laws – no one has contracted COVID-19 (knock on wood). My Uncle Mark had a very tough battle with COVID in April but was able to pull through and survive. There is nothing more important than our health. For that I am thankful.

2. My wife and children. My wife makes it possible for me to invest my endless days into making Fun 107 the very best it can be. When the pandemic hit, she understood that I was going to have to shift to a different level in order to get through it. She is the engine that makes our family run. I am beyond blessed to have Cyndi as my wife, and Reagan and Matthew as my children. I'm not ashamed to say that I'm even more in love with my wife all these years later than on our wedding day. She is my everything.

3. My job. I look around and see so many people that have been displaced from their jobs due to COVID wreaking havoc on the economy. Even during normal times, there is not a day that goes by that I don't thank God that I have been blessed to do something that I love. I have often said that I have never worked a day in my life because I love what I do so much. Having local business partners entrusting us with their hard-earned marketing dollars, sponsoring our show, supporting Fun 107, our contests, our charities; I am such a lucky person to have the position that I have. That is never lost on me.

4. Maddie. I am incredibly thankful that Maddie Levine came into my life in 2020. She has definitely been one of the highlights of this strange, strange year. When Christine had to come off of the morning show to save her family business from folding during COVID, I had no idea what I was going to do. Maddie has made that transition mind-blowingly seamless. She fits in so well here at Fun 107 that it's hard to imagine she hasn't been here for years. The best part is that Christine carved out time in her busy day to host the Back in the Day Café.

5. Gazelle. When the pandemic hit and the entire Fun 107 airstaff retreated to our homes to broadcast, it was Gazelle that camped out at Fun 107 every day to make sure everything got on the air. His efforts were tireless, and we were beyond grateful.

6. Marion's Hannah Strom. For those of you following, this has been one of the most inspirational stories of 2020. Hannah, who is the daughter of the owners of Kool Kone and a rower for Holy Cross, survived a horrific accident in January down in Florida that left her with traumatic injuries. She was unable to move or speak. After spending months in rehab, Hannah returned home in June, once again able to walk and talk. Yesterday, she was spotted jogging on the Tabor Academy track.

7. Our family puppy. I've never owned a dog, and never really had much interest in it. I'd heard about how much work they were, and I didn't have the time. My kids finally wore me down in 2020, and I am grateful that Bo is part of our family. He gets into everything, but the joy he brings to my kids makes it all worth it.

8. My gym. I've said it a million times in 2020: other than my parents and sister, the thing I missed most during the shutdown was CrossFit Dartmouth. The gyms were forced closed at a time I needed it the most. Working out surrounded by CrossFit coaches and athletes motivates me in a way that I just can't motivate myself. I have never been more grateful for a gym community than I am about CrossFit Dartmouth in 2020.

9. Grocery store workers. I'll never forget how much I admired grocery store workers at the beginning of the pandemic. In March, April, and May, when the world was hunkered down at home, these people put their lives on the line to make sure we had food and everything else we needed. They were suddenly pushed to the front lines of a war against COVID. It's not like you expect something like this to happen when you apply to Market Basket or Stop and Shop. I continue to be so thankful for them and all other essential workers.

10. Increased family time. While time with extended families has plummeted, one bright spot for me in 2020 was being able to spend significantly more time with my wife and children. It sounds cliché, but 2020 taught me to value time so much more and to savor the moments. One of my favorites was being able to have lunch with my kids. Normally, I never get to have lunch with them on weekdays, but during the lockdown, we'd all split up around the house to work, then meet up for lunch in the midday. I'll never forget those lunches. I'll never forget those afternoon nature walks with my kids. It's the little things.

To me, the fact that my family has remained healthy and my wife and I have managed to keep our jobs throughout the pandemic, we have very little to complain about, and much to be thankful for.