First, I must tell you what a difference a week makes.
No one would have ever expected that a city as large as Huntsville, AL, would be shut down for almost a week due to weather.
As life returned to normal, I thought about “Turning Obstacles into Opportunity” because that was what it was for me.
For five days, from January 15, 2024, to January 19, 2024, I remained sheltered in place due to freezing temperatures and Icy roads.
According to HPD, there have been 162 weather-related accidents this week and more than 20 that involved injuries.
Drivers heating up over icy road conditions in Huntsville (waff.com)
It was apparent this past Friday, January 26, 2024, after listening to individuals during my rescheduled Doctor’s appointment. I was one of many that had to cancel during the storm. When a facility is closed for a week, you adjust. I also learned many didn’t take the storm as an opportunity to refocus.
Many who live in the Huntsville area have never witnessed being out of work, getting paid, and having nowhere to go based on road conditions.
I asked one young lady as I waited for the Doctor when was the last time, she witnessed weather like this? Her response was that “she grew up here and had never witnessed it so badly; however, she remembered it as an elementary student staying home, but not for a week.”
You and I know that history often repeats itself. I’m always amazed at how quickly we forget things, such as how the pandemic had us sheltering in place, yet people had to go out into the weather knowing the conditions were unsafe.
So that you know what Saturday (January 20, 2024) looked like from my home to traveling to Mass in Huntsville, the roads were 90% dry and clear. However, my Church parking lot was an ice staking rink with the asphalt covered with a sheet of ice with a temperature below freezing.
My Rosary partner told me she hadn’t been to the 7 AM morning Mass all week and decided to take a chance for the 5 PM Saturday Vigil Mass.
Ironically, we had a great crowd at Mass that took a chance; however, others were still stuck at home based on icy roads and slick driveways that had not been defrosted by Saturday evening.
I tell you this story because, for the most part, “The Rocket City” of Huntsville, Alabama, was an obstacle that many did not take the opportunity to use wisely based on weather conditions.
Being a Scout means being prepared, and those seven years as a Scout Leader taught me various lessons that I imparted to the youth I trained.
It’s one of those traits where I practiced and taught preparedness in young people.
Through various communication mediums, everyone in the area was told before the storm hit to be prepared and get their necessities before Sunday night.
I took that seriously and had enough to last the required time; others did not.
As always, you and I know the first things that go off the shelf are bread, milk, and eggs, which, listening to those who did not plan, witnessed the short supply during the storm.
I now have a deeper appreciation for the individuals living in the North as I made phone calls hearing that they were already two or three storms into it.
Sometimes, life throws minor inconveniences that we must overcome and take with a grain of salt, which was also required for the driveways.
Maybe there is a lesson to be learned for some to pay more attention to the weather and become more resilient in the process.
Either way, turning obstacles into opportunities is what I have learned by being prepared and using my time wisely.
What obstacles in your life have you turned into opportunities lately?
McKinley,
At some points in all our lives we must adapt, improvise and overcome. There will always be some “obstacles “ that we just can’t go around.
Scott,
Greetings,
I would recommend keeping a positive mindset.
You’re right “There will always be some “obstacles” that we just can’t go around; however, I also know if we think we can’t get around them will won’t.
McKinley
Great !!
Dominique,
Thank you for your response.
McKinley
We had snow and negative temperatures in Colorado. I turned snow and cold weather events into in door activities, such as cleaning and organizing things inside my house. There is always something to do.
Don,
Greetings, I always have great admiration for those like yourself that live in areas where weather is somewhat predictable in the winter. Places like Colorado I have visited both warm and cold temperatures with my oldest grandson attending Colorado State University years ago. One would expect that your ability to turn snow and cold weather events into in door activities, helped break the monotony of serve weather. Thank you so much for sharing your insights this past week.
McKinley
CM, this past year was my first time in 25 years that I was charged with managing government civilian employees. It became a major obstacle for me when two of them were not willing to collaborate on tasks within the office, and it was known that they were strategically looking to depart the organization. However, before they identified their next move, there was a deliberate effort to push back on anything that looked like teamwork. On the contrary, I felt as though this was an opportunity to demonstrate to my subordinates how to handle conflict in the workplace along with seizing the opportunity leverage my emotional intelligence to encourage two disgruntled employees to share their technical expertise before leaving the organization.
Terrance,
Greetings and thank you for sharing a private victory that you were able to accomplish by turning an obstacle into an opportunity. In life we get challenged many times which reminds me of the “Law of the Rubber band.” In John Maxwell’s 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, Using the Law of the Rubber Band, he says: “True life begins at the end of our comfort zone, and we arrive there by stretching.” I trust that experience in the workplace has stretched you for the next chapter in your life. If you have not read John Maxwell’s 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, I would highly recommend reading it.
McKinley