When it’s broken, we fix it, right? We fall, we get back up and make everything like it was or even better. That’s the determination of the Rio Grande Valley.

Things don’t always go the way we hope. Plans fall apart; systems break. When we get knocked down, we get up and put our big boy and girl pants on, and we go to battle. The sweat pours, the muscles ache, but the Rio Grande Valley is full of tradition and pride. We dust off our feet after the chips stack against us and we rebuild.

A recent event is the reason for my report today. Our very good friend from the Valley and his family were on the unfortunate side of Mother Nature’s wrath just east of Austin. With a few snaps of the fingers, his property was devastated. One of the two homes was destroyed and the second suffered major damage.

Neighbors gathered, friends brought chains saws and powers of the human spirit turned a disaster zone into a recovery operation. Our Harlingen-native friend didn’t ask for help (as he never would) but it came. And it came in abundance. A severe negative turned into a full-blown “we will rebuild.”

Sometimes our businesses and organizations are knocked down to the foundation. Outside factors twist operations by splintering the very walls that sustain our companies: personnel, support systems, team morale. After the skies clear, we assess the damage, cry many tears and dig deep.

From recent years to recent weeks, our Valley businesses and our Valley-native friend say no to quitting. We say yes to winning because the brightness of tomorrow’s sunlight is dependent upon us. Us as in together. Our companies and our homes were not built or rebuilt with one set of hands. Teamwork wins … every time.

We are One. We are the Rio Grande Valley.

If you would like to help our friend and his family recover from the March 21 tornado, please email me at todd@valleybusinessreport.