What a difference a year makes.

June 7th, 2025 was a hell of a day.

Some of you were with me that day at the AC Hotel in Buckhead.

I was hosting a live event and had a nice group in attendance.

My daughter Sienna introduced me as usual and did a great job.

It was supposed to be a 6-hour event, but we never made it that far.

Because at the first planned 30-minute break, something inside me was breaking.

As we began intermission, I noticed that I was sweating right through my suit, even though it was 68 degrees in the conference room.

And I had a tight feeling in my chest that I couldn't explain.

What was breaking was my heart.

And not in a metaphorical way.

I was having a heart attack.

Fortunately, two of my trainers in the room that day are also registered nurses.

So one of them quickly triaged me and we made the decision to call an ambulance.

Soon, I was laying on a stretcher in the hotel lobby, ready to be taken to the hospital.

And for those of you who are new to this list, the story gets even crazier.

On the very same day, my late wife Shelli was in the ICU at a hospital near our home in Roswell.

She'd nearly died three days earlier, and was in the midst of a horrible downward spiral while recovering from throat cancer.

So my daughter Sienna was standing there beside me, watching her second parent get rushed to the hospital in the same week.

And you know what she said to me before they put me in the ambulance?

"You'll be okay dad. I'll see you soon."

One of my nurse friends drove her home in my car and some neighbors watched her for a couple days.

I had a 90% blockage in my LAD ("the widowmaker").

A couple days later, I had a stent put in and was sent home.

For weeks, I couldn't walk the dogs for 10 minutes without being out of breath.

But I slowly got better.

While my wife slowly got worse.

She died in October and I've been in recovery mode ever since.

They say "time heals all wounds."

That's partially true.

It only works if you let it.

And I thankfully was smart enough to lean into my grief rather than run from it.

I started focusing on the future instead of the past.

Each month things got a little better, and I eventually got the all-clear from my cardiologist to get back to the gym.

I've been running and lifting weights consistently.

I've been on a couple ski trips.

I've seen family in and out of town.

My kiddo and I have been having fun every chance we get.

So here I am, one year after a genuine near-death experience.

Roughly eight months after losing my wife.

I'm in the best physical shape I've been in years.

I'm doing great work with my clients.

I have a summer that'll be filled with travel, concerts, family and fun.

A summer that Shelli would be proud of. 🙂

What a difference a year makes.

So remember to hang in there when life gets tough.

Because there's a good chance things will get better.

Have a great week,

Sean