Reflecting on a Meaningful July

July went by in a flash, but looking back, it was easily one of the most fulfilling months I’ve had in a long time. Between spending quality time with family, getting back out on the water, and taking a couple of great weekend trips, this summer has been all about momentum, growth, and joy.

Back to Roots: A Family 4th of July

For the last handful of years, my 4th of July holidays were usually spent away at the lake. This year, I made a conscious choice to pivot back to family. Getting to spend the 4th around my amazing, huge family was exactly what I needed. Reconnecting with everyone (most), sharing laughs, and simply being around the ones who supported me from day one was a fantastic reminder of where my foundation lies.

Brotherhood & Life Updates

Another major highlight this month was reconnecting with one of my best friends from college, who was also my big brother in our fraternity. Catching up and sharing long conversations about life, where we’ve both been, and where we’re headed was incredibly grounding. It’s always rewarding to sit down with someone who knew you back then and share in the happiness and success of where life has brought us. (MB, we should’ve taken a selfie in front of our trucks! Next time.)

Spontaneous Weekend Getaways & Lake Life

If you know me, you know how much I miss lake life. July brought a couple of awesome, spontaneous opportunities to get out of town and get back to it.

I had an incredible weekend camping and going to the lake. There is nothing quite like being on the water and watching the sunset. It felt completely like I remembered and more. Later in the month, another spontaneous trip out of town kept that summer momentum going with even more great memories.

An Emotional Perspective on Brain Health

Beyond the summer activities, I made time to focus on my cognitive health and personal recovery journey. I attended an exceptional webinar hosted by the Brain Injury Association of America (biausa.org) titled “Steps to Building a Stronger Brain: Brain Health after Injury.”

It turned out to be a pretty emotional experience. I’ll admit (while working at the office), I cried through a lot of it—not out of sadness, but out of validation and understanding. When you’ve walked this path, listening to more professionals and advocates break down the realities of living with a brain injury hits home in a very powerful way.

I encourage anyone in the TBI community—or anyone supporting a loved one through recovery—to watch this. Even just watching the first half is immensely valuable and deeply relatable. You can check out the webinar recording here: 👉 Steps to Building a Stronger Brain Webinar

As we head into August, July served as a powerful reminder of how much life feels better and how many more great things are to come. Clear vision, true focus, and keeping the momentum! Looking forward to my favorite season, fall! ❤️