What’s YOUR “shark story,” {NAME}?

AKA — a time you had to dig DEEP for inner strength you didn't know you had {NAME}, Did you ever tell your kids bedtime stories? There’s one my boys ask to hear time and time again… The one where I, John Layke, caught a shark. And believe it or not — I think you’ll relate! See, back in med school in Miami, a friend invited me to go deep sea fishing. Being from Wisconsin, fishing certainly wasn’t new to me. But doing it on the open ocean? That was a whooole different ball game. So when my friend casually asked, “What do you want to catch today?” I couldn’t resist joking, “a shark,” thinking that would be the end of it... But to my surprise, they tossed some chum into the water, handed me a pole, and with a grin, said, “Good luck.” I laughed it off, thinking nothing of it… That is, until a few minutes later, when something started yanking on my line with an intensity that took my breath away. Suddenly, I was no longer laughing. There I was, drenched in sweat under the brutal Miami sun, gripping that pole like my life depended on it. After 20 minutes of battling whatever was down there, I started to question how I got myself into this mess. Isn’t fishing supposed to be relaxing? By the one-hour mark, my muscles were screaming as I fought to stay grounded. My hands were blistered, and exhaustion was really setting in. I was certain I couldn’t go on much longer. But then, something changed. I can’t quite explain it. It was as if a switch flipped inside me — a moment of clarity that cut through the fatigue and frustration. Suddenly, quitting wasn’t an option. It didn’t matter how tired I was, how brutal the sun was, or how impossible the situation seemed. I wasn’t done. I didn’t just believe I could reel this thing in. I knew it. So, I kept going for another 40 minutes, until finally, I brought a magnificent 9-foot hammerhead shark to the surface. It might sound silly, {NAME}... But that moment taught me something profound. When life feels overwhelming, when everything inside is telling you to quit, we all have a deeper strength within us. It’s a lesson I try to remind my kids of constantly. And knowing just how wise, spirited, and tough the BHMD family is… I know you've probably been in a similar situation. So {NAME}, tell me about a time when you realized just how strong you were. Maybe you discovered the fortitude to push through a rough situation at work… Overcome a long-standing fear… Leave a toxic relationship… Or, discover you were capable of starting over — maybe at a new school, a new career, or a new city — even when it felt impossible. I think it’s important to remind ourselves of these accomplishments every now and again… Because these moments define us. They remind us of the resilience and the strength we often forget we have. So, I’d love to hear your “shark story.” Reply to this email, and tell me about a moment that made you realize just how strong you are. We all have them — whether it's overcoming a personal challenge, conquering a fear, or making a difficult decision for the better. These moments remind us that no matter what life throws our way, we have what it takes to keep going. After all, just like that day on the boat, sometimes it’s not about catching the shark — it’s about discovering the strength that’s already inside you. And that’s something worth celebrating. Your Beverly Hills MD, Dr. John Layke P.S. I wish I had a photo from that day on the boat to share. But, we’re talking about something that happened 20+ years ago… However, I still love to fish to this day. In fact, I recently got to go on a fishing trip with my dad, brothers-in-law, and nephews up in Canada — and we had an absolute blast! Here’s a couple shots from our trip, just for fun: Alright, now it's your turn! Hit reply, and share your "shark story." I can't wait to read your responses. :)       This email was sent to {EMAIL} by jlayke@beverlyhills-md.com [Edit Profile]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [VIP Discounts]( | [Join Text Club]( | [Subscribe](  8391 Beverly Blvd., #471, Los Angeles, CA 90048   [Report Spam](  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Â