Texas Man Goes Into Storm To Take Care of Elderly Neighbors
These days, a sense of community and neighborly support is becoming increasingly rare. Many of us don't even know our neighbors; the extent of our relationship relegated to a quick wave if we happen to cross paths.
But luckily for this elderly couple, they seem to have hit the jackpot when it comes to neighbors.
A woman who goes by @ahhcarrizaa on TikTok shared a series of heartwarming video clips of her hero-husband — literally braving a hurricane — to make sure their elderly neighbors are taken care of.
And now? He's everybody's hero.
TikTok Video of Hero Husband Goes Viral
@ahhcarrizaa ❤️ Always check in with your neighbors, especially if they are elderly and dependent on special machines #husband #greenflags #goodman #neighbors #foryou #houston #texascheck #hurricaneberyl #hurricane #fypシ゚viral #beryl #united #htx
Recently, tropical storm Beryl ripped through Houston, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.
The torrential downpour accompanied by battering winds transformed roads into rushing rivers, and downed trees and power lines, knocking out electricity for more than two million customers across Texas.
Including @ahhcarrizaa and her neighbors.
As soon as the power went out, her husband immediately fired up the generator...only he didn't do it for them.
Knowing that their elderly neighbors have life-threatening medical issues and rely on medical devices to survive, he proceeded to drag the generator across the street, in the heavy rain, to the neighbor's house.
His wife captured his wholesome gesture on video and posted it on social media where it quickly went viral with nearly 8 million views.
"❤️ Always check in with your neighbors, especially if they are elderly and dependent on special machines," @ahhcarrizaa captioned the 10-second video.
In the text overlay, she wrote:
"My husband's green flag: When our power goes out, he fires up the generator so our elderly neighbors can still run their medical devices."
He Just Keeps on Giving
@ahhcarrizaa ❤️ He got them plugged up and good to go #husband #greenflags #goodman #neighbors #foryou #foryoupage #storm #beryl #houston #fypシ゚viral #hurricane #hurricaneberyl #texascheck
In a second TikTok video, her husband goes out in the storm again, this time navigating several downed tree branches to bring his neighbors an extension cord.
The text overlay reads:
"My husband's green flag: he gets out in the storm to give the elderly neighbor an extension cord so they can still use their medical devices."
"He got them plugged up and good to go," @ahhcarrizaa explains in the caption of the post.
Needless to say, people are loving his wholesome acts of kindness and praising him for his efforts.
"That's A GOOD MAN Savanah A GOOD Man 🥰👏"
"Marry him AGAIN.!!!!😩😍"
"He's out there saving lives and nobody knows! That's a superhero!"
"When my dad was in hospice, 3 days before he passed away, our power went out and he only had a small tank of portable oxygen left. thank you for doing this."
Showing Up When You See a Need
This is what community is truly all about: neighbors helping neighbors. It's people looking out for each other and doing what they can to make life a little easier for one another.
Because the reality is that some of the most impactful moments in life come from simply showing up when others need us.
Whether it’s offering a helping hand during a crisis, lending an ear to someone who’s struggling, or just reaching out to our neighbors with more than a passing glance, stepping up to meet a need can make a profound difference.
*Featured image contains photo by Ron Lach
Let Your Dreams Propel You Through Valleys and Over Mountains
Each one of us has a light within that radiantly burns; it never goes out. Life's challenges and inconsistencies may weigh you down, but let your dreams catapult you beyond all mental, physical, and psychological limitations -- be merciless in your pursuit of self-actualization. Use untapped potential within to fire up your internal engines; shift all gears to go, blast through all impediments. Ignore the negative environmental noise, which threatens to consume. Focus. Determine to turn all obstacles into rafts and propel yourself across life's turbulent waters. Never stop. Never give in. Never give up.
Let Your Dreams Propel You Through Valleys and Over Mountains
Aspire
Push forth with your dreams and goals no matter the setbacks. Be grateful to those who stick with you no matter what. Always find the time to say thank you to those who helped. Send them positive vibes even if they are no longer in your life. Aspire to do better at every juncture of your journey.
As a young black girl growing up in my Caribbean island home, I longed to cross the waters surrounding jagged, limestone shores. There were hardly any signs telling me I could rise above the struggle and violence of a broken home. Nevertheless, I dreamed to one day do better; I dreamed to one day go further -- I dreamed to soar.
When I mentioned my dreams to those around me, many smiled dismissive smiles. However, my mom encouraged and believed in me from her own broken place. She often said, "If anyone can do it, you can!" When inherited brokenness cost me friendships, jobs, lovers and my education, she encouraged me to keep going. She believed my dreams would take me through valleys and over mountains.
Visualize
Never lose sight of your goals and aspirations. There will be days when obstacles rise up, but have no fear -- obstacles are an important part of the process. They help you to grow, so embrace them when they appear. To me, obstacles are the universe's way of saying you are on the right track. Visualize how you want your end goal to look like as you keep surging forward.
Over the years, I figuratively crossed numerous faraway mountains and traversed countless overgrown valleys. Every step has been painstakingly minuscule, but I persisted. Over and over I shared my dream to be a published writer and artist to all who would listen. An immigrant and high school dropout with no inheritance as a buffer, I carved doors with my worn-out hands; I walked unpaved roads with my bare feet. Along the way, my determination created opportunities to meet kind-hearted people who saw my passion and helped propel me forward, eventually leading me to Mount Holyoke as a Francis Perkins Scholar.
Yes, I made many mistakes in my youth, most self-inflicted -- we sometimes do in our pursuit of betterment. However, when lessons needed learning, I evolved and kept moving at the same time.
Accept
Cultivate acceptance early. There are some situations and people you have to accept because there are no other options. Instead of fighting to hold on to the things you cannot change, accept, let go and keep flowing.
As time shuttled by I embraced humility -- I accepted those unfixable situations; I let go of unsupportive family; I gave up shallow friendships. In time, I realized, in order to give myself to others, I first had to heal my internal wounds. By accepting and taking responsibility for my shortcomings, doors opened that were previously closed. When the death of a close family member forced me to face life's unknowns and uncertainties, my faith was strengthened; when personal illness threatened my mortality, my faith was deepened. I have travelled far and wide in search of my truth -- not knowing, until now, that it was always here.
Finally, my dreams brought me back home to the place where I started. Today, even in the midst of an ongoing struggle, calm and peace still pervades no matter the crisis of the day.
Rise above
Know that all situations in your life have one thing in common: you. Take responsibility and keep making room for positive growth.
Although I had dreams that took me through difficult and dangerous mountains and valleys, I had the power and determination within me to keep going. This process is still ongoing today and will continue until I leave this earth. I am constantly reconfiguring and adjusting my dreams, even though, at the core, the goal is the same.
Nowadays, flexibility is my best friend, and I am persistent in finding ways to adapt to whatever comes my way. I found that incorporating daily self-reflection is essential to keeping my dreams alive and to manifesting my goals. Another lesson learned was the importance of embracing constructive criticism and not taking everything personally. In order to keep rising up, you must be mature enough to cast off internal slights and resentments, which tend to hold you back.
As time passes by, I continue to see the correlations between my inner and outer world. It is fascinating to see the connections; to finally understand that I am in control of my reality.
Hold fast to your dreams
In the end, the path of the pebble you threw, in the pond of your life, will ripple far and wide. Since yours is the hand that tossed it, all actions caused by that ripple will accrue to you. Do what’s necessary to uncover your truth and discover your path, but know all roads lead back to you. No matter your circumstance or situation, let your dreams take you through valleys and across mountains, but know the grass is always greener where you stand.