BLOG: A Storm Will Come

I just recently spoke with a good friend and old teammate from college. I just wanted to check in with him to see how he was doing. He lives in New York and I haven't heard from him since "Sandy" made her presence known. Unfortunately, he fell into the category of people who lost pretty much everything they had. I was speechless, there was nothing I could say but offer myself as being here if he needed anything.

Looking at all the devastation that was left in Sandy's wake made me sit back and reflect a little bit. Three statements from our conversation come to mind:

#1
Me: If you need anything man, you know I'm here and will do whatever I can. I will call up the rest of the fellas and let them know. You know we have your back.
Friend: Yeah, there are a lot of unknowns in life, but that is one thing I do know. I appreciate it.

This piece shows one person's willingness to help out another when hardship strikes. And everywhere you look you can find people doing whatever they can to help the people that have been affected. But, the bigger picture is that, in a country where you can get disliked for your political views, color of your skin or the clothes you wear, we are willing to give of ourselves to help complete strangers. It's great to see the human spirit alive and well.

#2
Friend: Yeah man, I lost everything I worked so hard for in my life. 
Me: Sorry to hear that. I know it's easy for me to say, but keep your head up.
Friend: Yeah, I will. It is all just stuff. If I do what I always done I can get it all back and more.

This shows something I firmly believe in and see in every aspect of my life. It is what we are all faced with when we wake up in the morning, challenges. Challenges reveal your character. It would be easy to sit there and mope around and feel sorry for himself. But he didn't and he won't. His confidence is through the roof that everything will be back to normal and even better than ever.

#3
Friend: I'm grateful that I have my life and health. No one in my family was seriously injured.

I don't think I have to go into it with this one at all. Just appreciate everything you have, because you never know.