Note: I first posted this on my old blog back in June 2014. I’m in the process of phasing that blog out. I edited it a little and re-posted here. It has nothing to do with travel but it explains an important moment in my life.
Let me start by explaining what the “Swoop In” Club is. I was a member of Toastmasters International. As a toastmaster, you have to give speeches in front of the club. The first speech all new toastmasters give is called “The Icebreaker.” It’s one of the easiest speeches because it’s short and you talk about yourself.
A woman joined the club. She talked about her divorce for her icebreaker. She described how she survived divorce because her friends “swooped in.” I remember thinking that was powerful! No one wants to go through a divorce, a death in the family or any other crisis. Unfortunately, crisis happen to all of us at some point. Will your family “swoop in” to support you during a crisis? Will your friends?
A little more than 3 years ago, my wife and I were living and working in a group home. It was hard work but we enjoyed it. The crisis came when we lost our jobs. It’s risky to live and work in the same place. If you lose your job, you lose your home at the same time. That’s what happened to us. We lost our jobs and had to move within three days. That’s short notice when you have a house full of furniture and personal belongings.
My wife and I got the news on a Thursday afternoon and had to be out of the house by Sunday night. We sat in the house for about an hour recovering from the shock. Once the shock was over, we started making calls. I called my parents and friends. She called her grandmother, brothers and friends. It was the same story told over and over. “We lost our jobs. We lost our home. We’re not sure what we’re going to do. We’re not sure where we’re going to go. We have to be out by Sunday night.” It could have been really bad but something else happened … PEOPLE SWOOPED IN! Our family and friends said over and over, “I’ll be there!” It was wonderful!
We spent the next day arranging for a storage unit, renting a moving van, buying moving supplies and getting the house as ready as possible. Saturday morning, with almost no notice, people showed up. We had a crew of family and friends helping us pack the house and get us moved out. One friend canceled a planned weekend vacation to help. By Sunday morning, most of our stuff was in storage and we were living with a relative.
My point is not the story of our crisis. My point is I’m now a member of the “Swoop In” Club. A proud member of the club. I no longer have to wonder about my family and friends in a crisis. I know if a crisis hits, they come running … and that’s an awesome feeling!!! Are you a member of the “Swoop In” Club? I’d love to here about it if you are.
Thanks for reading my blog!
Brent Jackson
Maryland Travel Stories 