Formula for a Winning Speech: Thank You, Josh Allen

Whether or not you think thank you notes have gone out of style, extending gratitude hasn't. It cannot, nor should it. For those who find writing a thank you note to be a burden—it is. But, taking a larger look at this responsibility allows one to see that the task exists because another person has given you their time, talent or treasure. Whether it's an act of care or generosity that another has extended to you, gifts deserves recognition. The world is a better place because we give and we say "thank you." But the burden need not be a heavy one. How? why? There's a formula—all of five steps—for writing penning such prose. Following a format for a thank you note need not make it insincere. You still have to personalize and put a stamp on it/hit send, but I hope this hack is helpful.

I wish he were playing in today's Super Bowl match up, but this past week Josh Allen was awarded the AP Most Valuable Player award for the first time. Allen was in attendance at NFL Honors in New Orleans to accept the award. He was joined by his fiancée Hailee Steinfeld, his parents as well as his coach, Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills' GM Brandon Beane. With 27 first place votes and 383 total points, this prestigious award is well deserved. The Bill's quarterback gave one of the best speeches I have heard from an honoree. 

I don't know that any reader of the blog or I will ever have to give an acceptance speech of this nature, but many of us are put in public places and spaces when and where we must address an award, accomplishment or honor. Should you find yourself in such a sphere, look to Allen's example. Let #17 words serve as your formula for further success. I hope this format helps!

First, watch for yourself. It is but two minutes and 20+ seconds long

• After a moment of awe and appreciation, he acknowledges there are a lot people to thank— and he apologizes in advance if anyone is left out. 
• God—thank the good Lord for allowing one to be in that place (short and sweet)
• Other nominees—he acknowledges the other MVP candidates by name.
• The powers that be—Allen then start at the top, as related to the team: "I'd like to think the Bills organization, Terry and Kim Pegula, Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott, thank you guys for drafting me seven and a half years ago. 
• The team.—Allen says, "I know this is an individual award and it says Most Valuable Player on it, but I think it's derived from team success, and I love my team," I don't know that we can say "I love you" enough. 
• All those who make one's work possible—A wise person knows that great success only happens because as Allen said: “We got such a great locker room in Buffalo, and it takes everybody.” Who doesn't love the shout out to Slick Rick in the mail room.... many hands make light work: literally and metaphorically. Shine on Josh!
• Family—in what was my favorite part of this speech, Allen named his parents and each of his three siblings—who are his favorite, original teammates. They aren't the only ones brought to tears at this point. He added, "I know you take a lot of pride in this as well." He's right. I have a feeling his entire hometown of Firebaugh, just off of Highway 5 in the Central Valley of California does too.
• Fiancée—no doubt, behind every great man is a "rock" and best friend. Beautiful.
• Conclusion—Allen lands his speech with a personal plea—one that is easy to remember, and hard to forget: "Be good, do good. God bless, and Go Bills."

I don't wear gear from other teams or schools. I have a personal policy against wearing a jersey of a player that does not play for my own squad. That being said, Josh Allen has certainly given my own mandate a good run for the money.

The athletic director at school immediately asked me if I was going to blog about this. How could I not? I won't go so far as to say what my classmate and friend, Jim said, "I love him like a son." But, I am a fan. I hope he gets to a future Super Bowl and hoists the Lombardi trophy in the near future. AND I hope this words help many people put in positions of privilege like this one. Congrats 17. Can't wait to yell "MVP!" in Tahoe.

Photo Credits
Quotes from the article
Tahoe
MVP (quotes from here too)

Beyond Good Vibes: Prayers for Damar Hamlin

"Prayer works."

"Pray for Damar."

"Prayer is real. And it's powerful."

Perhaps you heard these words in the days following the Bills vs. Bengals game.

The Monday Night Football game for Week 17 of the NFL season changed the tenor around the water cooler. The Tuesday morning conversation did not entertain typical questions such as Who won? Did they cover the spread? Who is now on injured reserve? or How did the outcome affect rankings for the playoffs.? Oddly, strangely and beautifully, a lot of talk  focused on prayer—not good vibes or thoughts and prayers. Prayer. 

Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills, collapsed January 2, 2023 after tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins during a routine play. According to a statement by the Bills, the 24-year-old athlete suffered cardiac arrest following the hit. Gina Christian – OSV News wrote, "Medics worked for 10 minutes to restore Hamlin’s heartbeat as Bills team and staff members knelt in a tight prayer circle around him. Hamlin was admitted to the University of Cincinnati (UC) Medical Center, initially sedated and on a ventilator."

Video circulated online of Bengals fans reciting the Lord’s Prayer in the stands. On ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, a former N.F.L. quarterback, told his colleagues on the live broadcast that “it’s just on my heart that I want to pray.” Bowing his head and closing his eyes, he did so. 

While it's not uncommon for athletes to thank God or give credit to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I have never seen an analyst go off script in this way. What might be even more interesting is that those in the studio appeared to be equally engaged and ready to join him. 

Tre Tipton, CEO of a Pittsburgh-based mental health coaching firm and a former wide receiver for the University of Pittsburgh claimed “Damar got the whole world to pray. God allowed Damar to get the whole world to pray.” 

The whole world? Not sure about that? But millions of people? I think so.

In the past five to ten years I have noticed that the number of people who are comfortable using the word "prayer"has decreased. Many are hesitant to ask for prayers. Others are reluctant to offer prayers for someone or something. Whereas I once heard someone say "I will pray for you" before a surgery, a job interview, and travel, today I hear "I will be thinking good thoughts."

One reason for offering "thoughts and prayers" is the fear that we might offend someone. I would argue whether or not one is religious, spiritual or both, if YOU believe in God—if you are a person of prayer—to offer to pray for someone is a gift. When I have heard those words they have brought me comfort and connection in a way that sending "good vibes" does not. 

Prayer isn’t a magical formula for getting what we want, and it isn’t reserved for ‘holy’ people, people practicing a faith tradition or for special times or places. Prayer is talking to God.

What happened with Damar Hamlin got people talking to God. He changed the narrative. We continue to hear people praying for him and his ongoing recovery. We also hear society asking a lot of questions. We should. 

The good news is that a life of prayer, more than likely, reveals more questions than answers.  And prayer enables us to live with the questions.

In his memoir Night, Elie Wiesel writes,

And why do you pray, Moishe?  I asked him. 

I pray to God that he gives me the strength to ask Him the right questions.

A fair question is not "Did these prayers work? but "Why? "Why did Damar survive? How it is that he lived and others die?" Big questions. Honest questions? Are they the right ones? Another good question.

The book Praying with Thomas Aquinas, states

Aquinas argued that by God's design we do cause things to occur when we petition God in prayer, not because we change God's will, but because God has willed that if we pray, certain things will happen. If we do not pray, those things will not happen. In recognizing those things, we grow in recognizing our dependence on God and on the meaning of God's will for us.

Aquinas' conviction calls me to pray and to really give myself—my time and attention to prayer.

Bills tight end Dawson Knox, said “Prayer is real, and it’s powerful. Constantly praying for Damar and his family."  Aquinas would approve. I agree.

What questions did the events surrounding Damar Hamil raise for you? Did you bring any of those questions to prayer? Are you comfortable offering to pray for someone? How do you feel when someone offers to pray for you?

God's love and grace has worked through the most popular sport in America to heal and help us consider what we believe and why.

Sending Damar, his family, friends and teammates love and prayers.

Photo Credits
Damar
Family Note
prayer Circle