Hello and hope you had a great Thanksgiving! I am not sure about you, but I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible journey Ana and I experienced this year.
First and foremost, I’m deeply thankful for the three remarkable women who ground me: my wife Ana, my sister Carol, and my mom. Their love, support, and strength have been my anchor through every challenge.
To my closest friends—Fabi, Joe, Gaucho, Angelo, and Ed—you’re more than friends. You’re the family I chose. I’m grateful for your unwavering support and the knowledge that I can count on you at any moment, day or night.
To our extended family, friends, clients, and supporters: Thank you for being our support system and helping us maintain perspective, especially after a year that tested our resilience with two significant hurricanes.
Finding Resilience in Life’s Challenges
Florida certainly knows how to challenge us, but we’ve emerged stronger. Just weeks after moving into our new home, we faced major hurricane(S) damage. In a twist of incredible timing, the storms hit when we were thinking about remodeling. While challenging, we’re grateful that the damage occurred early, forcing Ana and I to do it. Imagine if the storms had occurred after the construction was completed?
I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to grow Shades In Place in this dynamic environment. Our teams in Florida and Boston continue to impress me with their dedication and talent. Here to a toast to our professionals who are as committed to our vision as I am—you make the impossible possible.
Our first international project in Turks and Caicos was a milestone that pushed us out of our comfort zone. Those moments high up on scaffolding, sweating, and questioning our choices, ultimately became lessons in perseverance.
To the challenges we’ve faced—thank you for making us more resilient, adaptable, and appreciative of our journey.
Most importantly, I’m grateful for our health, our home, the food on our table, and the continued opportunities for growth. Life has shown us that perspective makes all the difference.
Happy Holidays to everyone! May your day be filled with love, laughter, and moments of genuine connection (and less hurricanes).
P.S. If you want to learn more about our ‘Two Uninvited Guests,’ check out our last post!