Everything is a blessing, even meetings. Whether it's meetings

Hear now the words of Eric Berry, the warrior of the gridiron, who proclaimed: “Everything is a blessing, even meetings. Whether it’s meetings or running gassers or lifting, it’s an opportunity, and the best thing to do is be thankful for it.” At first hearing, these words may seem curious, even lighthearted. Yet they carry within them the essence of ancient wisdom: that life’s burdens and duties, no matter how small or wearisome, are themselves gifts, for they shape the spirit as surely as storms shape the mountain.

The first jewel in his words is the declaration that everything is a blessing. Not some things, not only the victories or the joys, but everything—even the tedious, the exhausting, the humbling. To see all things as blessings is to live with a heart transformed. Where others see drudgery, the grateful soul sees opportunity. Where others see chains, the wise see tools of growth. This spirit is not naïve, but heroic, for it dares to call hardship a teacher and monotony a path toward mastery.

The second truth is found in his mention of the ordinary labors: meetings, running gassers, lifting. These are not the moments of glory, not the touchdowns, nor the cheering crowds. They are the unseen grind, the repetitions that seem endless, the details that go unnoticed. Yet Berry declares them worthy of thanks. Herein lies the lesson: greatness is not born in the spotlight, but in the shadows of preparation. To bless even the small and unseen tasks is to understand that every stroke of effort contributes to the final masterpiece.

Consider the story of Miyamoto Musashi, the famed samurai of Japan. His legend is filled with duels and victories, yet his writings reveal that true mastery came not in battle alone but in daily discipline—the drawing of the sword thousands of times, the endless hours of practice, the quiet meditations. Like Berry, Musashi saw that even the smallest exercises were sacred, for they refined the warrior into one who could not falter. Every repetition, every hardship, was a blessing because it prepared him for destiny.

The third flame in Berry’s words is the call to thankfulness. To be thankful is to recognize life as gift rather than burden. Gratitude shifts the soul from complaint to strength, from weakness to endurance. A thankful heart transforms even labor into joy, even pain into purpose. This is not empty positivity, but an act of power—the decision to view every trial as an opportunity for growth.

The lesson for us is clear: if we would live nobly, we must see all things—both great and small—as opportunities. Do not despise the long hours of practice, the tedious tasks, the moments without glory. Do not curse the weights you must lift, whether of the body or the soul. Each one is a blessing, shaping you for the greater battles and victories yet to come.

Practically, begin by naming aloud the things you find burdensome—your routines, your chores, your unseen labors—and speak the word blessing over them. Ask yourself: What opportunity lies hidden here? What strength is being forged in me? Practice gratitude daily, especially for the things that seem dull or heavy, for these are often the very things that shape endurance and greatness.

Thus, Eric Berry’s words echo across time: everything is a blessing, even the mundane, even the difficult. To live with this spirit is to transform life itself into a sacred training ground, where every task is holy, every effort meaningful, and every moment an opportunity to grow. And in such a life, nothing is wasted, for thankfulness turns all things into treasure.