Good Day My Friends.
The WJ thinking is planning. You will soon see that there is much for reflection and that brings about a lot of subject matter to think about. Have you heard that saying about failing and not planning to fail but failing to plan. This was drilled into me at some early stage. It has been quite a while since this reflection began that I’m speaking of even though it seems it was just the other day. There could be some good stuff in here, better take heed. I had an older gentleman tell me that one time, but I was young, high school, and he was my boss. What could he know. Besides, I didn’t even know exactly what he meant at that moment. Don’t worry, I had to look it up. This subject of reflection began much after the heed lesson, and it was now early 1984.
The planning began. This Mid-Eastern story took a lot of planning and that brought about surges of thinking and then replanning and so on. The more this went on the more I planned. There were numerous negative responses along the path of this plan but that wasn’t me failing. I am certain that fate allowed the path that led me to the yes and locating myself here in Manning SC. My thinking, I also think we make a large portion of our fate with decisions and perseverance or the lack of it. Mid Eastern is now on the path of coming to life. The plan became clear. Surely if I work 25 years or so and twice as much along the way as the average guy I can with all certainty be in shape to step aside from this with some level of Independence. Surely by then, 25 years. Probably should not have ever let the thought of that Independence word enter my mind. Sometimes you just can’t help yourself. I also remember this man sitting behind one of those big dark colored extravagant desks saying to me, “I have seen some of the hardest working men fall flat on their face. Fail”. Another older gentleman, term used loosely, stopped in one day as I was working along with the tiny contractor crew. Says right in front of me to another guy, “This place will never work”. On fire as I walked away. Both old dudes, Planning on steroids! I’ve later thanked this “gentleman” fella, to myself. He passed away. I was driven even harder.
In 1987 I started this other journey of a thousand miles, the beauty of that journey is it only cost $50.00. There have been plenty of twists and turns along the way. In 1989 Hurricane Hugo shut down this infancy of a business and then shortly afterwards the loss of my co-worker, friend, and stepbrother Ray. In 1998 I was planning to keep flying but that late afternoon in March that plan didn’t work out. Just for transparency, I started a venture in 1978,and I failed utterly miserably. Just so you realize I do know the meaning. There were lots of twists and turns and opportunities along this journey. I was constantly planning. Thank goodness I didn’t do enough research and planning on some of my projects to realize the difficulty that was awaiting. I probably wouldn’t have traveled some of the journeys. It is now July and it’s 2025 and it’s now been 40 years of the Mid Eastern life plan. What a journey of friendships and education. The path of learning about people has been fabulous. This is likely the greatest of rewards. From this there are now two stores and an online store, and the growing goes on. Tomorrow morning, I will get another early start and do it again. So now, there’s nothing to do but celebrate the journey.
The “Take-Heed” lesson is that time is zooming along and now it is going by at warp eight speeds. One of my dear friends, just ahead of me a bit has for years been saying; “All those things you’ve been wanting to do, (The one’s you’ll write down) You better go do them!” Those people, those memories, reflections, desires of expression, places, bucket list thoughts better come to your forefront of attention. It was just the other day, 40 years ago in just a flash. With this I conclude that my plan did not work out. I doubt that anyone of you here has not had a plan that did not work out. Just because the plan didn’t exactly work out does not mean it failed. I am truly humbled and so grateful for the twists and turns of the journey and for all the people I’ve encountered along the way.
The 4th Of July is upon us. I am sure glad to live in this fabulous country! The traffic out there is absolutely crazy. And those vehicles are flying by like time on a clock. Some of the folks just can’t seem to help driving a fool! Take a deep breath and just be kind. It’s a lot easier on you and everyone if you just grab a grin, an inner smile. Be kind. Even if they can’t help it, they need it!
Cheers to 40!
