REFLECTIONS FROM HARVEY
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Texas just experienced one of its worst disasters in history with Hurricane Harvey. This disastrous storm was the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the contiguous United States, which resulted in catastrophic flooding. The tropical storm has caused at least 51 confirmed deaths and economic losses between $70 and $190 billion. Although the storm was horrific in many ways, it brought the best out of many people.
It reminds me of the response of Americans surrounding other disasters such as the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. These disasters along with Hurricane Harvey prove the remarkable resolve that we as humans have within us.
So when it comes to the remarkable resolve of humans, I want to share a few reflections from Harvey. I think we would all agree that we are all better together. The same resolve exhibited in our responses to these disasters, I think we should exemplify these attributes with our families, businesses, and any other aspect of our lives.
1. Courage.
Courage is the ability to demonstrate strength in the face of pain, grief, or fear. There were many people during tropical storm Harvey that displayed courage. There were one too many deaths and a catastrophic amount of economic loss, but there wasn’t a shortage of courage. Without the abundance of courage, there would have been more lives loss.
A person familiar with being courageous is American politician, diplomat, and activist Eleanor Roosevelt. She was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States. At a young age, she loss both of her parents and a younger brother. She discovered an affair of her husband. On top of her personal challenges, she was viewed as controversial because of her stance on racial issues. She is still viewed as one of the most esteemed women of all times. In her words, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’”
What situations are demanding courage of you? Courage turns ordinary people into extraordinary and average businesses into superb businesses. Just remember we can neither control or predict how life will play out, but we can decide to be courageous.
2. Compassion.
Compassion is caring. There was plenty of compassion from fellow Texans and Louisianans, but the compassion was also palpable around the entire country and world.
Humanitarian, philosopher, and physician Albert Schweitzer said, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” During an unsettling time regarding racism, Schweitzer compassionately worked as a medical missionary in Africa.
It’s no surprise, but a little bit of compassion goes a long way. Theodore Roosevelt said it this way, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Whatever you do, don’t miss an opportunity to show your family, friends, coworkers, employees, employers, or and church members how much you care.
3. Commitment.
Lastly, I want to talk about the commitment I observed from everyone rallying to pull our friends and fellow countrymen through this disaster. Commitment is basically the ability to sacrifice. And we all witnessed people sacrificing their very life to help others.
One of the greatest coaches to ever coach in the National Football League Vince Lombardi said, “Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization.
This is why Houston and Louisiana will be okay. They will be okay because the individual and collective commitment of us all. Needless for me to say, we all need this commitment in our personal and professional lives to make things work for us.
In closing, I want everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey to know we are praying and supporting you. And if Hurricane Harvey has not directly affected you, know that being courageous, compassionate, and committed will bring about endless success.
What are your thoughts about the response of people when it comes to tropical storm Harvey? Please leave a comment below, send me a tweet on Twitter, or leave a comment on Facebook.
Bryant
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