Strive to Complete, Not Compete: Life Lessons from Hurricane Harvey

From our earliest childhood activities and school days, we were taught to compete. Be the best. Make straight As. Beat the other teams. While friendly and healthy competition has its merits, we strive into dangerous territory when we associate our self-worth with winning. It becomes even more detrimental when we associate survival with rivalry. 

How many “end of the world” movies have been made, where we see wars and chaos break loose, and the most innate of human instincts comes to surface? People are fighting for their own survival, and common social courtesies are left at the wayside.

In August of this year, we had a real-life experience in Houston of what mass destruction looks like. Hurricane Harvey made landfall with 130 mph winds and peak accumulations of 64” of rain. Wreaking havoc over the Lone Star State, 83 fatalities have been confirmed, and over 30,000 people have been displaced after their homes were destroyed. 

For those seemingly unending days, Harvey tore into our lives regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation. Harvey did not discriminate by how much money we had, or what titles followed our names. Harvey didn’t care if we drove a BMW or a Hyundai into rising waters. We were all in the same boat … quite literally.

And when this horrific act of nature was working to tear apart our city, we came together as a people. We did not mimic what Hollywood told us about human nature. No, we did the exact opposite. Our most innate instincts did surface, and our instincts were remarkable. Our instincts were compassionate and generous to our neighbors. Our instincts took us from cities and countries around the world to this broken city with hands outstretched to bring hope and healing. 

We became the help we were seeking. Whatever was needed - water rescuers, carpenters, painters, cooks, and shelter providers – we became these things overnight. Most importantly, we became a family.

So let’s take these big life lessons and apply it in all the little things we do every day from now on. In our personal and professional lives, let’s commit ourselves to completing the potential we can collectively achieve, as opposed to competing against one another for personal gain. Let’s commit to helping our neighbors at all times. At our kid’s next game, let’s extend a word of encouragement to their teammate or even the opposing team! In our next big meeting, let’s sincerely listen to what others need, and let’s lean on everyone’s collective strengths and accomplish more than we could do alone. 

What we were forced to do as a city during crisis should actually be the way we voluntarily choose to live every day. We have seen the potential of operating together with mutual respect. We have a responsibility to bring that truth forward in everything we do. With the damage of Harvey behind us, and the hope of rebuilding in front of us, let us strive to include. Let us strive to integrate. Let us strive to achieve all that we were meant to as a neighborhood, a city, and a society.

#HOUSTONSTRONG