713-869-7575866-261-3184
Member Of:
RSS Feed
Posts Tagged ‘Life’
Family Bonding
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
A little over 2 weeks ago, my uncle died. He was my mom’s brother. It has been really hard on our family, especially my mom. But, what hit me the hardest was the realization that the older I get, the more this is going to happen. As a child, deaths and funerals were rare for me and I never got used to the pain and sorrow that comes along with losing loved ones. I suppose that’s a really good thing though – having to lose people when you are young can be much worse. It was a sad day at the memorial, but also a joyful one for many reasons. We got to celebrate the life of my uncle and we were reunited with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc…
I’m realizing that there are a few things that bring full families together – Weddings, Births and Funerals. All three are celebrations of life and occasions to come together with old stories, great memories and rekindled relationships. It is sad that it takes these major acts to keep many families in touch. People seem to be so busy these days that they forget the really important things in life. The really important things in life start with family. It is in the family that our roots take hold and from there we grow to be the person we are meant to become.
I’m very lucky to have the family that I do. We are close, we travel together, live in the same area, spend weekends and holidays together and I now run my father’s original business (A Houston Courier Company, Hot Shot Delivery). As an immediate family, we understand the importance of “family time” and we have a strong family bond. But rarely do we spend time with the extended family. I’d like to see that change.
I was watching television the other night and a line from one of the shows really hit home for me:
“Make a plan, set a goal, work towards it. But every now and then, look around, drink it in. Because, this is it. It might all be gone tomorrow.”
If everything were gone tomorrow, did you spend today doing the things that mean the most? It’s definitely something worth thinking about and possibly changing the way you do some things. I did a little exercise that I thought was pretty helpful. I took a piece of paper and drew a line in the middle of it to make two columns. In the left column, I made a list of the most important things in my life. In the right column, I made a list of the things I spend the most of my time doing. It was very interesting to see how the most important things in my life often took a backseat to the items in the right column.
As I close for the week, I’d like to dedicate this blog to my uncle and his life. I’d also like to send a message to my extended family, I hope that we can set a goal of spending more time together and work towards that goal. Because if it were all gone tomorrow, I would definitely miss those good times.
Should you do the same with your family?
Until Next Time,
Eric
Why We Need Vacations
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
I recently had the pleasure of taking a few days off to head down to Galveston to spend some time with my family and a few days away from the hustle and bustle of my Houston Same Day Delivery Company, Hot Shot Delivery. I can’t stress enough the importance of taking a vacation – even a short one – several times a year. It boosts your economic well being along with your mental well being. It’s not something to be taken lightly – vacations are a must and here are 5 reasons why:
1. Stress Reliever – Sure, traveling with 3 young daughters can be seen by some as stressful, but, to me, it is a great time away from the courier service office. It’s a change of pace, a new scenery and the opportunity to take a deep breath and go with the flow. People often underestimate the importance of this time away and put it off until it is too late. The stress can pile up and with no release, you begin to jeopardize your health.
2. Physical Health – Getting outside, breathing the fresh air, soaking up some Vitamin D and moving around for a few days is going to be better than being hunched over behind a big monitor that is probably too close to your eyes. Juggling deadlines, customer service, human resource issues and the many areas related to running a business is a mental and physical drain on your body. You need to hit the reset button every few months.
3. Economic Health – Not only for the tourist economy, but for your own pocketbook. Sounds odd to some I’m sure, but there is proof behind this concept. Often, when taking the time to get away, you actually free your brain from being bogged down by the daily operations of your business and get back to the free-flowing ideas of the vacationing right side of your brain. You also take the time to read new articles or books and get in to discussions about business ideas without worrying about missing a deadline or dealing with a daily crisis. Some of my most profitable ideas have come when fishing with my dad in the middle of nowhere. You can’t always get that type of brainstorming in a room full of whiteboards and suits.
4. Family Time – I know that you are busy in your own life, but combine that with the lives of your spouse and your kids. My family alone is bouncing back and forth between schools, dancing, day care and tons of other extracurricular activities. I’m lucky to get dedicated time with one of my daughters at a time, much less all three and my wife. However, on a vacation, there is nothing else to do but spend time together. These are the memories that your children will have and think fondly of as they age. This should be a huge priority for you, if you want to maintain the sanity and love within your tight knit group.
The Beauty of A Vacation
5. Fun – Not much to explain here. Getting away is fun. Trying new things, re-doing old things, catching up with friends, making new friends… whatever. Get out there and do it.
As I close, I think of the fond memories from my short trip to Galveston, fishing trips with my dad, our recent trip to Disney and the many more that are in our future. Be sure to cherish this time with your family and don’t deny yourself the chance to unwind, relax and recharge. You will thank yourself later.
Until Next Time,
Eric
Passing Of An Old Friend
Friday, April 17th, 2009
13 years ago, a black lab puppy of 6 weeks old came in to my life. We named him Jax and have had a lifetime of wonderful memories with our pal. For those of you who have had a lab, you will agree that they are the most patient, loyal and loving dogs, not to mention, very smart. That’s exactly the kind of dog that Jax was, even to the end. And, as he lost his battle with cancer, he still managed to put our family first in his list of concerns and cares.
Jax and My Girls
I began to realize that Jax was with me through all of the most important moments of my life. Marrying my wife, having each of my kids, taking over the family courier business, graduating from college, everything. Jax, silently in the background, was a pillar of support, unconditional love and my biggest fan.
Having to bury Jax was probably one of the most miserable experiences that I’ve had in a long time. I still expect him to be waiting for me when I get home, and that hurts the most. The truth is he’s probably the best dog I’ve ever had. He was there for my wife when she needed him. He was always there for me too and has been such a good member of the Donaldson family.
Probably what I miss the most are my talks with him when he would look at me with those big sad eyes and let me know he understood. Not something that you can easily replace. Jax was a great friend and companion and I know someday we will meet again. I will miss you my old friend.
Until Next Time,
Eric
Home | About Us | Solutions | Online Ordering | Online Tools | Blog | Contact Us | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
Courier Website | Local Internet Marketing by
© 2010 HotShot Delivery. All Rights Reserved.