If you love watching sports, there's no doubt you've invited ESPN anchor, Stuart Scott, into your home to bring you the latest sports news and highlights over the last twenty-one years.  Stuart Scott had a way of connecting the fan with the players and the game.  He was genuine and intimate, yet funny and sarcastic.  

As you know, Stuart passed away last Sunday and it leaves the world of sports rippled with grief. That same night, ESPN showed several clips of him anchoring, interviewing players, and his speech at the ESPYs in July of 2014.  During one of these many clips, Stuart was asked how he was dealing with his cancer and trying to still stay positive.  Stuart’s response was something like, 'I’m just looking forward to life... to the ups and to the downs.'  

These words made time stand still for just a moment.  Of course we look forward to the ups, but do we ever look forward to the downs?  We wish and expect that the next chapter is going to be the best yet or that the new year will be the one that tops the rest.  But, for me, I never think of looking forward to experiencing the not-so-great times.  

This all changed in an instant because of his words.  The hard times played through on the big screen in my mind one after another, linked together as though Spielberg had directed them in sequence.  Each moment served up emotions, but with each memory and lesson learned, came even more gratitude; gratitude for having lived them, for reminding me that we're all human, and for teaching me lessons I may have never learned elsewhere.  

The adrenaline and emotion from Stuart's words made me lie awake and I began to think about the future... specifically the year ahead.  And as I thought about 2015, my excitement grew, for there will be ups and there will be downs and with each one, I know my heart will grow and my mind will be opened. For the first time in my life, I'm looking forward to not only the ups of 2015, but also to the downs.  

I leave you with this quote from Neil Gaiman:

'I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.' || Neil Gaiman

(For Rachel's Challenges for Making 2015 the Best Year Yet, click here.)