Important Now to Say Thank You

“The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.” William James, M.D.

Every time I receive a call or text from her, I can’t help but think about her offer of help during one of the toughest times in my life.  That was during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. That emotional, powerful story is told in my latest book, The BET. She is my sister Janice, one of the kindest people I have ever known. If you ever need help, she will offer before you ask her.

Our transportation company, Hackbarth Delivery Service, Inc., (HDS) is facing new challenges in this virus pandemic. And no surprise… my thoughtful beyond measure sister is once again doing what is normal for her to do. Helping me. She is making homemade masks for our drivers. As part of the designated critical structure team, our drivers are making life-saving medical deliveries across the Southeast.

Based on current CDC guidelines, our company is offering masks as an option to our drivers. Along with extreme cleaning measures, we want to maximize the tools available to protect them while they continue to make important deliveries essential to keeping our country’s supply chain in place. Janice not only started making masks, she recruited Margaret Stanton, a lady from her church, to help make them. Some of the material used by Margaret bears the Crimson Tide Logo, and some of the initial masks traveled to destinations outside Alabama. I cannot imagine drivers in our Louisiana operations wearing an Alabama mask! Guaranteed to start some interesting conversations. If true, I am sure I have not heard the end of that.

It is important to say “thank you” now.

Don’t wait. Do not delay.  We need to encourage everyone on the frontlines and those who are part of the critical structure.  Medical workers, grocery store employees, drivers, pharmacists, law enforcement members and yes—homemade mask makers. All are essential at this moment in the crisis. They need encouragement. A thank you is important.

I am grateful for …

The current homemade mask makers for HDS

Thank you, Janice Spivey, my sister. 

Thank you, Margaret Stanton, friend of Janice.

Thank you, Sherrie Hannah, friend of my daughter Kim Sweet.

Thank you, Madeline Higginbotham, HDS Service Center employee

Thank you, Angie McKeehan, of the FR Girls of Texas

Thank you, Paula Petmeckey, friend of HDS employee Kelly McLean

Thank you, Cheryl Price, wife of HDS employee Lloyd Price

Thank you, Dale Casey, sister of HDS employee Rex Curvin

Thank you, Linda Bienvenu, former HDS employee.

The medical personnel—nurses, doctors and technicians.

Thank you, Stephanie Stevens, my wife’s second cousin, a nurse serving in Jackson, Mississippi.

Thank you, Kristen Wolfe, the daughter of Charlie Wolfe, who owns Blaze Courier. Kristen serves as a nurse in Louisiana.

Thank you retired medical workers who came out of retirement.

Thank you, medical clinicians who traveled to New York.

Thank you, Samaritan’s Purse, for setting up a field hospital in Central Park.

Thank you, scientists who are working on drug treatments and vaccines.

The law enforcement members, local and national, who keep us safe.

Thank you, Mobile Chief of Police, Lawrence Battiste, Safety Director Jim Barber and all the police officers of Mobile who every day keep our city safe.

Thank you to our military who keep our country secure, and who are building new hospitals in areas that have a high volume of virus cases. 

The transportation professionals who deliver food and critical medical supplies.

Thank you, Hackbarth Delivery Service drivers and management team. I am totally impressed and completely humbled by your efforts.

Thank you CLDA, our transportation association, for your effort to keep our industry and the government informed on transportation issues related to the virus.

Thank you to all my amazing friends in this wonderful industry who are making a huge effort to keep drivers safe while keeping our country’s supply chain in tack.

The manufacturing companies that are making ventilators, and personal protection equipment.

Thank you to all the companies that have expanded their work areas and are now working 24/7 to maximize the production of needed medical equipment.

A complete list of gratitude is too long for this newsletter edition. I do not know everyone whom we should thank. But, with our combined voices, we all know to whom we should express sincere thanks. I need help in this mission of gratitude. Will you thank those within your local community?

Do not wait until tomorrow.

Do it now!

Take time to express gratitude to those who have united in one cause for our country. Call, text, email or write a letter of thanks. Post on a social media site. Circulate messages of appreciation. Offer an act of kindness. Show your thankfulness.

Any expression or act of gratitude right now is like gold to those who will receive your kindness while they daily fight the invisible enemy.

 “Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” Randy Rausch

“Prayers of gratitude are powerful tools for wellness.” Dr. Christiane Northrop

“Out of difficulties grow miracles.” Jean de la Bruyere

I am grateful for what so many of us are doing and I remain very hopeful.

“Hope is a good thing, maybe even the best of things, and good things never die.” Andy Dufresne, Shawshank Redemption

Thanks Janice for always being there. 

And to so many others, thank you.

I am grateful and hopeful.