Writing and journaling can be profoundly therapeutic, especially when we pause long enough to acknowledge the many blessings woven into our daily lives.
We become better, kinder, fuller versions of ourselves when we embrace a “gratitude attitude,” giving thanks not only for life’s triumphs but also for its trials. Both shape us. Both teach us. Both matter.
Years ago, a Catholic priest encouraged me to put pen to paper and write down everything I was grateful for. It was a simple exercise, but one with a powerful aim: to reorient the heart toward blessings rather than burdens, toward grace rather than the noise of everyday frustrations.
With Thanksgiving now just a week away, there is no better time to reflect on, and share, the gifts for which I am most deeply thankful:
THE GIFT OF POVERTY
One of my favorite lines from the movie Vanilla Sky has always stayed with me: “The sweet is never as sweet without the sour.” We cannot truly savor the highest of highs unless we’ve endured the lowest of lows. My family grew up in extreme poverty, and though it was painful, I am genuinely grateful for it. That struggle taught me to cherish life’s “simple gifts”—a safe home, a hot meal, clean clothes, a working washer and dryer, a phone, and above all, an extraordinary family. These ordinary blessings feel extraordinary to someone who once had none of them.
MY WIFE, ASHLEY
I still joke that she must have lost a drunken wager, or that our great-grandparents in Ukraine traded goats and sealed our fate. But the truth is this: I am married to a remarkable woman. Ashley devoted her career to serving the less fortunate as a social worker, and today she pours her entire heart into the most important job in the world—being a stay-at-home mom. She is patient, compassionate, fierce, and faithful. She must be a saint for choosing me. I am endlessly grateful for my incredible Ukrainian Momma Bear.
OUR CHILDREN
Ashley and I are living our own American Dream, both personally and professionally, but nothing compares to the joy of our family. At home, we are raising three beautiful children: Maksym (7), Emeryk (6), and Victoria (3). They are happy, healthy, curious souls who fill our days with laughter, chaos, and purpose. They are the brightest lights of our lives.
THE SOUTH SHORE PRESS
I am deeply grateful to have led such a talented, passionate newsroom, a team that has made The South Shore Press the finest newspaper on Long Island. The on staff journalists are dedicated professionals who will continue delivering quality reporting to our community. It has been an honor to work alongside them.