THE TORNADO.

The reality of this new life post-tornado is finally starting to sink in and the stages of grief are certainly starting to rear its ugly head. I have to continually remind myself to be thankful that I have my life and those around me are safe — but the destruction, loss, the struggle of understanding, and deciding next steps are sometimes too much to bear. I also see so many of the same feelings that I am experiencing throughout my community and even more so with those who have lost much more than I.

I am so thankful to each and every person that has reached out, offered a hug, a “corona” fist bump, offered to bring us food, helped us clean up, and come to offer support in whatever way they can in this time of immense struggle. Each of us are taking each day as it comes and just moving along hour by hour, step by step, day by day — and truthfully that is all we can do.

From a personal perspective, I am facing a near-down to the studs rebuild to my home, a totaled vehicle, and losses in the thousands to my business. Thankfully, insurance is going to help with about 65-70% of the losses, but the road ahead will be extremely long and a financial burden. What I can say is that I am pulling deep down into my own strength and telling myself that I will make it through. I haven’t given up when things were tough before and I certainly won’t give up now.

Each of us will continue to need your support in the weeks and months to come. As a good friend told me this week, “Continue to look for the helpers, Phil, celebrate their talents and passions, accept the help of those who love you and don’t be ashamed when you need to ask for help.” As someone who has been fiercely independent for a majority of my adult life, it is never easy to ask for help and in many cases it is hard to even understand or identify where you need help the most. In many cases, I just pulled myself up by the bootstraps and did.

This week has shown me a level of appreciation for each of you (and countless others whose names I don’t even know) in ways I would have never expected. This week has also shown me the truest form of community that I have ever seen in my life. To be on the receiving end of aid this time, I am eternally grateful for each of you who have lent a helping hand in whatever way your time, talent, or treasure allowed. The strength of Nashville is an awe-inspiring thing.

With that — #Onward.