Today’s a day I’ve been looking forward to…I finally get to pick up my family from the airport tonight.

For the past two weeks, Ali and the kids have been out in California for her brother’s wedding (I flew in just for the weekend), and while I’ve stayed busy and knocked out a few personal projects, I’ll take the noise, energy, and chaos of family life any day. The house is too quiet without them. I miss the laughter, the conversations, even the interruptions.

While they were out there, Ali took the kids to a Dodgers game—and it turned into something really special. Her dad came along, and the two of them laughed the night away, reminiscing about all the times he took her to games when she was little. Now here they were, bringing it back full circle, passing that tradition on to our kids.

It was the first time our 14- and 11-year-old sons had ever been to Dodger Stadium, and they loved every minute—especially when Mookie Betts hit a two-run homer to win the game extending their win streak to 7-0. And just to keep the excitement going, Shohei Ohtani hit a walk-off homerun the very next night, which happened to be his bobblehead night.

After the game, Shohei said something that gives insight to why he’s the best in baseball:

“It’s actually an honor to feel the pressure because that means there’s a lot of expectations, and I just change that to more of a positive.”

As I anticipate picking up my family from the airport tonight, I find myself wanting to carry that same mindset. Yes, I’m excited to see them—but more than that, I want to be ready for them. Ready not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually as they come walking from the gate to the minivan.

They might be feeling a little sad after saying goodbye to family in California… or worn out from the long flight… or just tired and hungry from surviving on a bag of Popchips at 30,000 feet. So how can I show up well for them?

Shohei’s mindset—that pressure is a privilege and an opportunity to serve, not something to fear—really struck a chord. And I believe it’s the same with health.

What if we embraced the pressures of life not as burdens, but as invitations to lean in and love well? What if we saw our health not just as the absence of pain—or a checklist to get through—but as the strength to rise to the occasion, to be fully available and ready in the moments that matter most?

May we continue to stay strong, clear-minded, and ready—not just for the big moments, but for the everyday opportunities to quietly show up for the people who matter most.
Because whether it’s a “bobblehead night” or just one of those routine, seemingly mundane moments, coming through in those times is what helps shape a life—and often ends up being the very thing that blesses someone else the most.

Have a tremendous Thursday,

Dr. Derek “Ready for My Favorite Pickup at the Airport” Taylor