[Doug Gorman]

2 nights ago my family had a tragedy. My grandmother lost her floral shop to a massive fire. Arson... Why anyone would do something like that does not surprise me because human beings in general are sinful, stupid, and plain evil. The business has been in our family for over 75 years - in that same building that was destroyed.

It was a real heartbreaker for our family and my grandmother is holding up very well considering. She lost my grandfather whom she lived, worked, and loved for over 50 years last December and now has lost the only business she has known since she was born. She was raised in that building (which was attached to the house she grew up in) and owned and worked in it until 2 days ago.

I now recall many memories that I have from working their when I was a teenager and visiting throughout my life. I cannot fathom how many memories went up in smoke for my grandma because a few idiots decided they wanted to start a fire. It's a shame...

BUT - I always see that God has a different plan and things are always better after the fact. It is a horrible loss, but also a blessing in disguise. A family friend who owns a pizza place happens to have the other half of his building up for lease, but told my grandma that she could use the other half for free. The building is also in a higher traffic area and she will be visable to many more people.

So in the long run, she will actually bring in more business on top of the return clients and their families that she has had for years.

What I want everyone to see is that when something that you cherish is lost or taken away, it does not mean that you become lost or lose your way. Things happen so to become part of a greater good in your life. Sometimes we have to experience the worst to have the opportunity to come across or develope something better.

If your personal life or business is not going in the direction that you want or hope for, keep trying, keep trying, keep trying to make it how you want it to be. If that does not happen, then maybe God has a different purpose for you. Just never stop until your last breath is spent.

My grandmother is 70 years old and this fire will not deter her. What will she do? Keep going.

Why would any one of you stop? Don't you want to be successful and fulfill the ambitions that you have set for you? Of course, or you would not be in this forum reading this right now.

Then you are the only one who can quit, give-up, build up, or find success in yourself and what you do.

You are your own chooser of your own destiny. You can be led, but ultimately, you are the one who makes the choice to finish the race or never start running it at all.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get going! There are always greater tragedies and circumstances worse than your own...do not let those become your excuse or your burden.

Make things happen because you want them, not because something or someone has derailed you. Focus, apply, perservere and grab success by the horns and ride off into the sunset.

Success waits - it will not come to you - you have to create your own and make the most out of it. So what are you going to do when the fires of life burn? Succumb to the flames or dust off the ash and keep going?


Doug

[johntanyishin]

Great post, I hope she will keep going strong in the new place.

JTYS

[truby]

Great post Doug,
All things work together for the good. Thanks for the encouragements that you have given us to continue pushing forward and never give up. Also, glad to hear that your Grandmother
is doing well.

Truby

[talfighel]

Great post Doug. I really hope that she is happy with the new place.

Everything happens for the better.

Tal

[Jeff Casmer]

Hi Doug,

Great post.

Thanks for sharing!

Take care
Jeff Casmer

[Cynthia Minnaar]

Hi Doug

Thanks for posting this inspirational story and I am sure your Grandmother is going to make a huge success of her new shop.

Cheers for now
Cyn

[Patrician]

Wow Doug. Heavy.

Thank God there is the upside to this.

I know you will be there with her all the way, doing everything you can to help.

Very inspirational post. Thanks for sharing this lesson with us.

[Malcolm Tindle]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for sharing this with us, it sounds like your grandmother, along with your support has turned a negative into a positive and I hope she finds happiness and success at the new premises and that will be one in the eye for the scumbags that set fire to the old place.

It is often said that if we knew in advance what life had in store for us we wouldn't want to go on but the fact is that life is a great unknown adventure and we make of it what we can, if we expect to fail then we will, it's all about attitude and strange things happen all the time. We don't know why or when things are going to test us or if it is all part of a plan or destiny or whatever, who knows but I love the fact that even at 70 your gran is still keeping the business going and more power to her.

regards,

Mal.

[GT]

Hi, Doug:

Thanks for this post. Yes, we all face experiences from time-to-time that have the power to crush us or to make us stronger - it is our choice which way we go.

Your Grandmother's story and her determination is an inspiration to us all.

GT

[Matt Helphrey]

Great post Doug!

You are absolutely right. Sometimes things happen in life that we have no control of and instead of pondering why, it helps to know that things happen for a reason and try to see the positives as hard as it may be.

Very inspirational. Thanks for sharing...

Matt

[Clyde Dennis]

Recipe for getting 'there' no matter where there is:

"No matter what happens don't blink, and keep moving!"

[residual profits]

Hi Doug,

Life is like this only.....Its a continuous process of joys happening after sorrows; the idea is to never give up hope. Tragedies always inspire us to keep going more strongly, as there is no other way out. You are so right Doug, God always opens the door to another better opportunity when you loose one.
I must say, at this age and after facing such a loss, your Grand Mother is worth million praises for her courage to even think of giving a new start.
I have only one gesture - "HATS OFF TO HER".

Do give her love and encouragement from all of us here!

Thanks for this nice encouraging post!

Regards,
Yogesh

[Ariel100]

Great post Doug, its totally possible to make lemonade from lemons so to speak. I've hit some rock bottom moments, and if nothing else they provide the motivation and dedication to work harder and farther. Locked behind tragedy is always opportunity. Best of luck to her on her journey!

[Alan Thomas]

Hi Doug,

Thanks for the story. Your Grandmother obviously passed some of her determination on to you. Give her my best wishes.

Alan

[mlipson]

HI Doug,

I am so sorry for your grandmother's loss;she's a very strong lady to be so determined not to give up. I'm sure she's going to be very successful we will keep her in our prayers.

Martha

[hirohurl]

Hi Doug,

I am very sorry to read about your grandmother's loss, but heartened by your response.

You have given us a great example of how "between stimulus and response, we are free to choose..."

Your family can't get the old shop back, and the pain cannot be (should not be) denied... but you have shown us that you CAN choose how to respond, and that is powerful.

Best wishes to you and your family.

David H

[zirkamer]

Everything happens for a reason for sure. It is however hard to see through it clearly so we can see the true purpose. Given time it does show itself.

God Bless Doug!

Zirkamer