There is always something truly uplifting about people overcoming adversity and succeeding.
One can only but admire people who have suffered great loss, pain or hardship and have found a way to not only survive but thrive and reclaim their lives.
But not all adversity is at the life anddeath level.
Take rugby star Dan Carter, who on the face of it has an almost perfect life. He is successful, rich and happy. But you must remember that Carter went through two World Cup agonies. The first was in 2007 when the French booted the All Blacks out of the quarter-finals. The second agony was in the 2011 World Cup, which the All Blacks won. Carter did not get to taste the sweetness of victory in the final as his cup was cruelly cut short by injury. We all know how he responded this year - he has a medal to prove it.
But, these sort of triumphs can also happen to ordinary people. One of the big fears many people have is not having a job and not being able to provide for their families. That is why it was heartwarming to read the excellent Business feature by our business editor Patrick O'Sullivan in Saturday's Hawke's Bay Today Weekend about four staff members at Tangaroa Seafoods in Ahuriri, who refused to accept that their company was closing its doors.
The four women, Stevie Rangiawha, Margaret Taylor, Glenda McCleland and Sandra Jimmieson, with the support of customers, decided to give it a go and are now running the business. It is early days, but things seem to be going well. They are very fortunate to have a business mentor in the form of Ray McKimm, the owner of BigSave Furniture, who has done wonders to create the Ahuriri Business Park and to stimulate growth in Napier. But full credit must go to the four women, who have proved that anything is possible.
