I was a little taken back yesterday. I had been in a visit with a patient for almost an hour. At the end of the visit I got up and had already said good bye and was waking out of the exam room when she exclaimed loudly in front of my staff and other patients, “Oh my God, you are so skinny. You have lost a ton of weight!” A little surprised I turned around and said, “Oh wow, thank you. I have been working really hard this past year.” She then said, “You sure have and you look great.” I think it was just the timing of her reaction at the end of our visit and how it caught me off guard. I get those small complements from people at times, but this time it was in front of quite a large crowd. I was a little embarrassed at first but I have worked really hard and so glad that others can see the results. I really want to be a good example for others. I want to encourage everyone to keep going. You are doing great. You never know when someone else is paying attention.

Same route as last time but no snow. And today I manage to walk faster with longer steps and with same speed uphill as on flat ground 😅 yeeii!

Hi everyone, My name is Laercio from Cape Vert, I live in London but am moving to Paris soon... My Goals really are to drop body fat, BUT most importanly Get Fit as I age, reduce pain and aches in my body, and reduce the risk of injury... Basketball is life... Mentally, it has done a lot for me, taking me out of dark places and keeping me Sane, Being here means I can learn from everyone and Darren. If on death row, what's my last meal??? lol Rice🍚and Pinnaple 😅

Yesterday, Coach @Darren Liu shared an appreciation post about his mom, and it really stayed with me. It was heartfelt and beautiful—but it also reminded me of something we don’t always talk about. Later that night at dinner, the same topic came up. A close friend of my sister shared how much she admires the love, support, and closeness our family has. Then she got emotional and shared that she’s never known what it feels like to have a mom who loves or supports her in that way. It honestly broke my heart. It was a quiet reminder that while appreciation posts can feel uplifting for some, they can land very differently for others. And both experiences are valid. We can be grateful for the love we have and hold compassion for those who didn’t receive it. Gratitude doesn’t take away from awareness, and awareness doesn’t diminish appreciation. Two truths can exist at the same time. I’m sharing this not to dampen anyone’s joy, but to gently bring awareness. Everyone here carries a different story—some are healing, some are grieving, some are learning to re-parent themselves, and some are still making peace with what they never had. If anything, this reminded me to lead with more grace, more kindness, and less assumption. You never really know what someone is holding when certain topics come up. There’s room for gratitude, healing, and compassion here—all at once. 🤍 How do you practice appreciation while staying mindful that everyone’s story looks different?