One Day Brandon, You're Going To Miss This!

Before I begin, I hope to not come off as pretentious here, but I just wanted to give everyone an idea of what my day is like.

I always get asked what an average day for me is like, and the one thing I can tell you is that everyday is always different. Yesterday though, I was on the run from the start.

I started the morning out with a fantastic 5:30 workout, followed by a healthy breakfast.

After that I had Mark Messier come in to the office to talk to me about some business we have been working on.

Afterwards I had an important meeting with the New York Yankees to work on certain changes we are making to our Yankees-Steiner partnership.

After that I had a long conversation with Mariano Rivera about his charity golf tournament, which is held each year in June, and we were already brainstorming some ways in which we can improve on the 2018 event to raise more money for his church.

From there I went into a meeting with Joe Plumeri (Former Chairman of the Board at Citi Corp) and Darryl Strawberry. Right when the meeting started I could tell he was passionate about his idea, because he hit me and Darryl with a line I have to tell you about …

"I don’t want a 'think tank' approach I want a 'DO TANK' approach."
- Joe Plumeri

He wants to start a movement to prevent kids from overdosing on opioids. An issue that MUST be recognized in our country, but isn't getting the attention it deserves. It truly feels like for the first time I am a part of a movement. I am motivated to be a part of something so important. 150 kids a day die from opioid overdoses and this needs to stop.

At this point my night was really just beginning. I had to go interview Hall of Fame Catcher, Mike Piazza, at PinkTie.org's event, which was organized by Steiner Sports and 1st Equity Title & Closing Services (a valued client of Steiner Sports).

Next, I went on over to a fundraiser for God's Love We Deliver, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of men, women and children living with serious illnesses by alleviating hunger and malnutrition. They provide 1 million meals a month. Amazing!

There was a point in the night where I knew I was getting tired, but I stopped and said to myself “Man, I’m going to miss this one day. I’m going to miss the action.”

I can’t help but be so grateful for all the good things I have in my life right now, and I urge you to all do the same. You must always appreciate what you have, no matter if the cup is over-flowing, or if the cup is completely empty. All day, everyday, be grateful because there is always someone who has it worse.

When I was younger, I wish I had made it a more regular practice to stop what I was doing to just cherish life. For me it was always about what’s next? Or what else? But I realize now I should have enjoyed the good moments a little bit more.

One thing I notice is that people say they work so they can provide their family with a good life. But if you aren't around, than what is the point of working so hard? The memories your kids will have won't be where you went on vacation, or how many toys you got them for Christmas or Channukah. What they will remember will be the memories you made together and the laughs you shared.

For me I didn't grow up with much, but I did grow up with the most loving mother I could have ever ask for, and the moments I got to spend with her are what I know will never leave me.

Remembering the "good old times" are great, but what's more important is that you don't let get lost in the action. Like I mentioned before, I know I will miss the action, but you can't let the action fade away. Never let yourself stop making memories with the ones you love, because why would you waste anytime you get to spend with them to think about the past when you are living in the present?

Looking back there are a lot of things I miss, and if I had the opportunity to go back and relive, I would do so without hesitation. Embrace these moments in your life!

1. One of my greatest joys was simply having a catch with my son and getting to be his coach in little league, along with skating around the rink and shooting the puck at him, as he was decked out in his goalie gear to the point where you could barley see him. These are the moments that you are telling yourself before you even have kids, "I can't wait to do that." So when the moment arrives, enjoy every second of it, because one day you are going to miss it.
2. Taking my daughter to fashion shows in NYC, and sneaking into certain events (to a 9-year-old, sneaking in anywhere was cool). My daughter loves fashion and let me tell you, she has style. I always loved how she would help me pick out clothes to wear, and helped me form my own sense of stye. 
3. I miss trick-or-treating when I was a kid, but more than that I miss watching my kids trick-or-treat, because they were always in the cutest costumes. 
4. My mom calling me to wear a jacket, so I didn’t get sick (Even at 30-years-old, I still loved those calls). Although you may get irritated by the calls, don't, because one day the phone won't ring.
5. Going to the school yard to play softball or basketball and not knowing which, or if any, of my friends were going to show up. Sometimes playing for hours with kids we didn't even know was just as fun.
6. The other day I was playing basketball for a couple hours in my regular Sunday game and I already prepared the ice for the impending soreness I would soon be feeling, and couldn’t help but miss the days when I could play all morning, get a quick bit to eat, then play another 5 hours.

I really do miss all the great things that I simply can’t do anymore, but I am so grateful for all the memories that have meant so much to me over the years.

I guess I really do have a lot to be grateful for.

Now tell me, what are you most grateful for?