Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner with us
MCAA Logo
Log in Sign up Join Hi, there Account
2026 Midyear Registration is OPEN
Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner
Log in Sign up Join Account

The stronger person

Words: Jennifer Morrell/Public/News/20120407070000-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Experiences have made me a stronger person." />
Experiences have made me a stronger person.
I have journeyed through some difficult times in life. Some of those difficulties were the results of my own doing - foolish decisions or poor choices. And some of those difficulties weren't my fault at all. Situations happened, and I soldiered through.

I have been told on more than one occasion that, in many ways, I should be grateful for any challenges in my life, since the experiences have made me a “stronger person.” That two-word description always has irritated me: stronger person. What does that mean? And how would anyone be able to judge if I actually were “stronger” for having weathered a personal storm? To me, the whole “stronger person” thing just sounded like one of those trite expressions people use to transition to another conversation. That is, until recently.

I was watching a documentary about a recovering drug addict. The lady was about 40 and had a 17-year-old daughter. When the girl was interviewed, she gave a tear-filled account of what life had been like with a drugged-up mother. She said she still was bitter and a little angry toward her mother. Then it happened: The interviewer asked the girl if she thought going through this experience had made her a stronger person. There it was again, that expression I despised!

But her answer changed the way I see the enduring of life's struggles. She said the experience gave her the wisdom and strength to guide others in the same situation. So, yes, she supposed she was a stronger person. Advising other kids who have or had drug-addicted parents was something she could do, probably better than anyone.

I started thinking about what unique lessons my life has carved, and how no other person in the world shares my exact shade of wisdom. And, without even realizing it, the stronger person inside me raises her head anytime I need her. Whether it's being a rock for a friend or family member, or just making it through a trying, hectic week.

Think about the last four years - how the economy has changed, and how different business is today from 2008. The industry is starting to turn in a positive direction, but most folks agree that our “new normal” will be quite different from anything we've ever known.

So, with what you have been through - keeping your company on its feet, continuing to employ as many of your staff members as possible, and hanging on until things got better - are you a stronger person? What can you teach the next generation? What have you learned that you can apply to your life in the future? Think about it; I am guessing you've learned more than you initially thought.
 0
The Importance of Staying Engaged
September 2026

There’s an old adage in Washington, D.C.: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” After moving to Washington, D.C., in January of 2001 for what I thought would be a fun two years working for a Member of Congress while I figured out what I really want

Stephen Borg
Government Affairs
Read More
Mentmore Towers, Fort Point, and More
September 2026

The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, UK, stands as a sweeping estate that represents the absolute peak of English masonry. Conceived with breathtaking scale and precision, the monumental complex is defined by

Justin Stengel
Masonry in the Media
Read More
The Alhambra
September 2026

High above Granada, Spain, the Alhambra offers masonry professionals something more than an architectural landmark. It is a working lesson in how relatively simple building materials, placed by skilled craftsmen and maintained over generations, can create

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More
The Wall
September 2026

There is a story around Huntley Brothers that some of our guys simply call “The Wall.” I’ve told it enough times over the years that when I start telling it to one of our younger guys, I can see a few of the older ones rolling their eyes. They’ve heard i

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More