Change is something we are surrounded by every day, every hour and every minute. Yet some of us fight it whether it is at your job, at home with your kids or with your friends and family. Some of these changes start out very small, so small that you never really notice them until they are big “life altering” changes that hit you right between the eyes. I was always taught to be thankful for the good and bad changes in life. My Father used to say the good changes were blessings [easy to be thankful for] and the bad changes were challenges / circumstances that we need to work through and they would help us grow to become better people.
For most of my life I never understood being thankful for the “challenges” I just thought that life altering changes were things that happened to other people. It wasn’t until all those small changes I had been ignoring for years caught up with me and all of a sudden Bob and I were faced with a business that was failing and deep in debt. We did everything possible to save the company we put our life savings back in the company but in the end we were simply too late. The changes had simply grown too big and powerful and we were powerless to stop them. Now we had lost a company that my Grandfather and Father had started 62 years ago! Truly life altering stuff but Bob and I didn’t have time to stop we know we had to keep moving forward. A big new change was coming [fast] and we had jump on board and trust that everything would work out.
That was one year ago and in that last year we have grown our new company H&A Warehouse & Logistics using skills that we learned from both our Grandfather and Father. For 30 years Bob and I ran an import company that was very successful for 27 of those years so we knew we could re-invent ourselves with hard work and faith. As I look back on the last year I am very thankful for the hardships and tough times, for without those challenges I wouldn’t be where I am today. We are still trying to grow and develop our new 3PL warehouse and logistic business but we have added new clients and the prospects for the future look good.
On July 14th my Father and mentor passed away he was 84 years old a great husband, father and friend. Bob and I learned everything we know from Dad, whether it was in business or out of the office my Father was a true moral compass for all of us. Even when the business was failing Dad would say to Bob and I how proud he was that we were working through the hard times and that we would indeed come thru this better men. Bob and I have a long way to go but if this past year is any indication we have a far greater blessing in store for us down the road. Change is always present in our lives look for it every day and be truly thankful for the good and bad but most of all recognize that the challenges we face along with the dark times maybe for the best, when all is said and done.
William W Emery December 05, 1930 to July 14, 2015 Rest in Peace