Devastation brings out our best

This past week saw the death of Dame Maggie Smith, as well as the arrival and resulting devastation of Hurricane Helene in the Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, and Eastern Tennessee.

Dame Maggie Smith laid her acting skills to bed at the age of 89. While most may have known her as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies, or the Dowager Countess of Grantham from Downton Abbey, she was always growing her acting skills in theatre, movies, and television. It didn't matter what the location was, she always moved forward.

Just as we should with whatever job or skill or desire we are in pursuit of in our life. Learn from our mistakes, always seek out ways to improve ourselves. Enlist the learnings from others that are ahead of us in the race.

And Hurricane Helene came ashore as a Category 4 hurricane in the Big Bend region of Florida. 140mph winds and massive storm surge has left devastation down in that area. And yet, towns up in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee are now recovering from that storm system.

The Pigeon River in East Tennessee forced the closure of Interstate 40 going into North Carolina. The village of Look Rock, North Carolina is completely devastated. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is mostly closed to visitors as I write this post (9/28/24).

And yet, people will muster themselves up to help out where they can. Neighbors will work with neighbors to clear downed trees, electric companies from unaffected regions will rush to the aid of those less fortunate. Volunteers from across the country will come to the aid of their fellow citizens no matter what.

Let your compassion, empathy, skills, love, and willingness shine brightly.

Until next time,

Coach Charles Cain