Utah Man Am I ~ Girl Dad x 4 ~ Bamboo Life ~ twitter is just my outlet for my inner monologue for: Sports | Business | Travel | Parenthood | Outdoors |
I want to share something that happened to me yesterday that has had a pretty deep impact on me
Yesterday morning, I woke up early with a DM from somebody I didn’t know.
This was the message:
I thought about the exchange all day.
I was a dumb kid who had a narrow frame of mind. I can’t beat myself up too much with my immaturity back then.
But the interaction was a reminder that we have no idea what other people are going through.
Be kind. Have empathy.
After reading the message, I remembered this individual and I do remember being unkind to him in elementary school - and into jr high.
My first reaction wasn’t defensive - I really was sad that my unkindness had affected him for so long.
Below is my response:
He wrote back a short reply.
I felt good - but didn’t think too much about the interaction.
But about 25 minutes later I got another message from him, which I’ll summarize (cont)
As such, he basically had no relationship with his parents
By 12 years old, he moved in with his grandparents and became their caretakers as they transitioned towards passing away. Basically a full time job
Around this time, he also realized he was different & likely gay …
He felt it appropriate to share a little about himself -
When he was born, his mom was immediately hospitalized with MS and with brain cancer
So hard! She withdrew herself as a parent and fell into deep depression
His dad tried to cope & survive by working 2 jobs
He came out in his 30s and had found peace and love
He has had great professional success.
But whenever he thought about his youth, he felt that hurt.
I got a bit emotional learning more about his life. And we shared a few more responses with each other.
Some thoughts about the game now that I’m done driving
1. I’m so glad we came down. My wife hadn’t yet experienced an SEC game.
And if you haven’t, you’re simply missing out. We’ve been to Michigan, Notre Dame, and many PAC12 games.
The SEC just brings a unique intensity
Utah playing Florida and Baylor in non-conference and having SC and UW on the road. Playing last years Heisman winner and playing against two likely Heisman finalists.
And their roster was so decimated that they were playing their 5th string QB -
And they went 8-4
Coach Whit 🔥
@RichLowry
The temptation for trump apologists has always been to justify the unjustifiable and then blame everyone who tries to hold the lawbreaking conman accountable to norms and laws.
@HeathMayo
@HC_Richardson
Back in 2011, a former presidential candidate was charged for federal campaign finance violations - six felonies - for paying $1M in an attempt to cover up his affair.
Strange that nobody threatened civil war or accused the DOJ of being a baba republic
Like my wife said on the way out - that was the funnest loss I’ve ever watched.
Utah put it all out there. Not just tonight but all season.
The Buckeyes fans near us had so much respect for Utah’s team, program and fanbase
Say what you will, but Utah has held its first two opponents - an SEC team and a Big12 team - to a combined 24 points.
This D is gooood and still not fully healthy
Huge prayers to all impacted by the Lahaina fire
All of our interns are safe and accounted for
But most business & homes near Front St are destroyed.
Absolutely devastating. I’m so so sad for Maui and praying for the well being for everyone there and those fighting this fire
I have not followed this until today
But I know the girls cottonwood basketball team and know this girl and this family very well and they are amazing people
To have this kind of attention heaped on this child is abhorrent
We need more empathy. Especially from our leaders
Whoa. I did not expect my thread to blow up
I just thought the experience gave me a lesson worth sharing
I just meant to share it w my followers
But some people are really critical of everything
It takes thicker skin to be on this platform non anonymously & I don’t have that
@FordJohnathan5
@BusinessInsider
I will confidently say this.
Not even trump’s name being on the Epstein list more than any other name would stop his supporters from voting for him
@SpencerJCox
Nah. I’ll disagree cordially here. 😉
The remaining 80 minutes of that speech was nothing that represents Utah’s values
Accusing cheating in the last election, Mass deportations, high tariffs, praising dictators and Hannibal lecter
🤷♂️
Any Utah fan would rather take that SC win than the BYU win
Yeah, it would have been nice to extend the streak against the in-state rival. And it’s nice to get both.
But for the Conference race, and for most of the guys on this roster, this USC W means way more
I’m at a loss for words
Our puppy just collapsed and died while I took her in a walk
Don’t know if it was rat poisoning or heart failure
My kids are going to be a total mess
With so much divisiveness in the world today, its so refreshing to know that there’s one thing that unifies almost all of us:
The dislike for Greg Hughes.
#utpol
Baylor is getting a special football player w such a high 🏈 IQ
But they’re getting the best human.
I was just talking with him and he’s such a sincere and humble dude - yet so goal-driven and motivated.
@BUFootball
and fans are incredibly lucky 🐻!
I’m grateful that Utah will be part of the Big12
But there’s no way I’ll like the conference a much as the PAC12
I loved the destinations of the schools, lived the prestige of the Rose Bowl, loves the Vegas CG, loves the cali:west coast affiliation…
I‘ve never been more motivated to vote for a gubernatorial candidate than I am this year for
@SpencerJCox
.
For those who care, these are my main reasons why the
@coxforgovernor
campaign resonates with me:
I’m numb right now
I just found out that a friend attempted to take his own life & the effects are devastating
He has a beautiful family, including a baby just a few months old
We have no idea what anybody else is going thru in their life
We all have challenges
Be kind
Love all
Wait - so ESPN fires contributors like RH3, Samantha Ponder, Steve Young to save money - but keep giving ridiculous money to people like Stephen A Smith
RG3 was so fun, so engaging
ESPN is no longer a quality product outside of the live games - at least not for me 🤷♂️
It’s great seeing these players from local schools have success this year in the NBA:
Dame Lillard
Delon Wright
Kyle Kuzma
Jakob Poeltl
Andrew Bogut
But the local media would still rather publish stories about others not having success. 🤷♂️
Our public school teachers are underpaid.
Two of my daughters started school today. One had so much anxiety she would cry every time she even thought about starting school. I was so nervous for her.
Both came home ecstatic about this school year and I couldn’t be happier.
Unbelievable. Alex Smith isn’t just playing as a positive PR story. He’s completing over 80% of his passes and throwing for nearly 400 yards.
What an inspiration!
@JesseAPaul
I’m so sorry man! Bonnie is gorgeous
This happened to me two days before Christmas
Our Kona was just ten months old and collapsed while on a walk.
It was devastating to pick her up within a minute of her falling and having her be dead weight
🌈 bridge
Lots of positive emotion right now
We are all on vacation in Hilton Head and my nephew got his mission call and opened it on the beach
Warsaw, Poland - Ukranian speaking!
He’s going to be able to help so many people who lost everything in the war in their home country
We are doing a community Day of Service in Holladay/Cottonwood today and it was so awesome to see
@SpencerJCox
and his wonderful wife out here helping!
We need more community-building events like these
My Hannah wanted to get a pic.
Thanks Gov!
@stevereederiowa
@WalshFreedom
Running up the deficit to record levels?
Shutting down the country due to Covid and PPE shortages and handing contracts to cronies?
Protectionist tariffs?
Yeah, that’s not a conservative record. 😂😂😂
Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan were best friends, high school teammates and teammates at the University of Utah.
Two tragedies ended their lives nine months to the day of each other, but not their bond.
Instead of booing Hayward the next time the Celtics come to town, I think Jazz fans should just chant “Thank You”.
Seeing what we’re seeing now, I just don’t believe we’d see Mitchell’s full potential this early if Hayward would have re-signed.
#takenote
This is one of the policies that I just can’t even comprehend how any conservative or even anyone with a sense of economics can support.
Tariffs are a huge tax on the low and middle class and will stifle the economy and lead to high inflation.
From the GOP Platform: “Republicans support Tariffs on foreign-made goods. As Tariffs go up, Taxes on American Workers, Families, and Businesses can come down.”
This is a lie. As tariffs go up, prices go up, sales taxes go up & your income taxes won’t come down, either.
Stupid.
3. Urban. The fans around us surprisingly said they can’t stand Urban. He brought TWO NCs to them, so. I was shocked to hear he wasn’t really liked. The copilot I spoke to think he’s an ass, the way he left & how he handled the NFL
I’ve got to hand the St Mary’s student section credit. It would be hard work to move the cafeteria tables to prep the gym for the game. They don’t even seem that tired.
#nit
#utahatsmc
Isaac Wilson is the real deal.
I hope that the other QB signing didn't do anything to send mixed messages to him because he has the opportunity to be very special at the U
The talk of the NBA right now is Former Ute Kyle Kuzma.
And yet from Utah local sports media, you’re still more likely to hear about Jimmer’s last game in China than you are to hear any discussion about Kuz.
Utah MBB beat Kentucky last night.
Utah football wins the PAC12 South for 2nd year. 10-2 season. Today lands its highest-rated recruiting class ever.
Great time to be a Ute!
@utahathletics
And credit the kid, he shot his shot and decided to ask her again.
But she decided to say yes this time.
So tonight he dropped her off some gifts and his card said
“I think I want to have a broken leg every year if it means you’ll say yes to be my valentine.”
😂😂
❤️
Corso just said USC will probably meet Utah in the PAC-12 championship.
Kirk walked that back in a friendly way by saying it will feel like the championship next week at the colosseum when they meet up.
We are at a point where a newspaper suggested that Utah should have implemented a policy to have the National Guard deployed to prevent the unvaxed from “going anywhere”
And they say that’s what a civilized state would do.
Some have lost their minds and don’t even realize it.
Sad news. My friend passed away early this morning.
COVID turned to pneumonia (much like mine did) and he had blood clots in his lungs and couldn’t recuperate.
I’m so so sad for his family.
He is such an amazing dad, husband, friend.
Just found out that a friend of ours was adjusted admitted to the ICU with COVID at IMC and is in a medical coma. His heart & lungs stopped for a time and are now on machines. There is a fear he may not survive the night.
I’m so sad right now
🙏😢
.
@GottliebShow
: Is there one year when you look back that was more enjoyable?
@OSUCoachMeyer
: When I look back and see what we did at a non-BCS school... That team [Utah] on any given day could beat anybody.
@SpencerJCox
Sometimes the best litmus test for whether you’re doing the right thing is who is most loudly against you.
Couldn’t be more true, in this case.
🙏👍
I started following
@SpencerJCox
years ago on twitter & I loved the fact that he doesn’t see governing as a zero sum game & sees collaboration as the way to find a better outcome for all.
Plus he’s got a great hair style.
We’re proudly supporting
@coxforgovernor
This is one of the dumbest articles I have ever read. Anybody reading it is now more stupid for having read it. May God have mercy on your soul.
If any U fan says they miss the WAC or MWC, they are lying or are not U fans.
Emptying the stadium, the crowd had two chants - which sounded really cool in unison when you’re walking out:
1. I said it’s great to be a Florida Gator
2. S-E-C
Some conference pride - and deservedly so…