Results Count ... everything else is conversation.: Hitting the pause button … Time to celebrate

The rest of the story to “It shouldn’t have happened”

I haven’t missed weekly blog post in over 3 years. Would anyone really miss a Results Count blog this week before the US Labor Day weekend? I doubt it. Truth be told, I had severe case of writer’s block as I prepare for this special weekend. Since blogs are supposed to have a “personal flavor”, this week became an opportunity to share the rest of my story to a post almost a year ago entitled: "It should not have happened but did”.

What is so special about this US Labor Day weekend?

To our friends abroad, the US does not celebrate many “bank holidays” or holidays that create 3 day weekends. I won’t retrace the roots of why it is called Labor Day in the US, but it always falls on a Monday and creates a 3 day weekend holiday signaling the end of summer and the start of back to school. It is one of those great holidays where families gather around the barbeque to just chill out and celebrate good times.

In my particular case, this Labor Day weekend is true cause for celebration. My youngest daughter is getting married, and it will definitely be an event to “eat and drink about”. What makes this one so special is that just about a year ago a wedding was unimaginable, and the farthest thing from this Dad’s mind!

The nightmare should never have happened … but it did.

Last September I made a very personal post. My 25 year old daughter suffered a severe stroke. “Old people” are the ones who suffer strokes … it should not be your youngest daughter! Definitely a parent’s worst nightmare. Suffice it to say that a wedding was the furthest thing from anyone’s mind, as our family grappled with what it all means to recover from a stroke that takes away your speech.

I’m happy to report that with much work, persistence and courage my daughter has recovered. She will proudly say “I DO” this weekend. I’m very fortunate to not only have my daughter back … but I’m blessed with a fine new son-in-law who stood by her through all of the many months of recovery.

Hopefully you can see why it’s a time for me to hit the pause button and celebrate one of life’s great events this weekend.

The immeasurable power and joy of “Social”

In my original post about my daughter’s stroke, I mentioned with gratitude all of the support from family and friends via social networks. While I had dabbled in social media prior my daughter’s stroke, Facebook became a lifeline during recovery.

I now in fact have a real smartphone where Facebook is used far more than email! Regardless of the social platform that “wins” long term … social networks have become a fabric of who we are in today’s world.

Can a blog create a social community?

Image Credit: David Castillo Dominici

There is no lack of headlines on social media. Not a day goes by without articles on Facebook vs. Google+. But, blogs rarely seem to get mentioned these days in the context of social community or networks.

When we originally started Results Count, a main objective was to network with businesses, contacts and the many graduates of IMS Retail University. Over the course of 4 years of posting weekly blogs, there have been many measurable results in terms of climbing on Google rankings, tens of thousands of page views, and becoming listed on AllTop.

What I was not prepared for was the development of a personal, social community as a result of this blog. I cannot even count how many messages I received wishing me and my family well through the blog about my daughter’s stroke. Many of these people I have never met, and probably never will. For me, this is a remarkable outcome that makes this blog a community that is truly special.

So, it is with great pleasure that I am able to announce to the many who have asked … yes, this is THEE wedding weekend. And this old man is hitting the pause button to make time to toast a very special couple … a real life duo that have already experienced the “worst of times” and now deserve the best that marriage has to offer.

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