The Morning After

Dearest Readers,

Now back in Vancouver (and heading home today) I have been experiencing the energy of this city in all its post-Olympics glory. The people are abuzz with happiness and joy. It's thrilling to witness and to have been a part of it feels very special.

Coming here yesterday I was expecting to experience a city with a big, fat hangover but it seems that nobody got drunk! Everyone must have engaged in that most perplexing of activities called social drinking because from what I can tell, no one is sick and tired and full of remorse and regret. I have seen only gracious pride and unity. Too cool!

Reading through one of the Vancouver papers yesterday, I was struck by how positive all the reporting was. There were a few altercations mentioned, protesters going too far and things like that but all in all, thousands and thousands of people behaved themselves and got along.

Some might say, "Duh." No-brainer. We are Canadian, after all. But we are also human beings who can be wild beasts when given the opportunity. And this was a global crowd.

Something about this particular Olympic party encouraged the vast majority of its guests to be peaceful. We were almost entirely unified in our restrained approach to celebrating the bigness of the event.

I find this incredibly hopeful. If you are one of those people who thinks we're all going to hell in a hand basket (I'm not) then surely you are encouraged by such a mass demonstration of togetherness. People can certainly be boors but we can also be real gems, too.

Let's celebrate the hope for humanity for once, shall we? None of this "we're doomed because we're destroying the planet" thinking allowed here. We're doing well, folks. Instead, let's give ourselves a collective pat on the back for sharing the spirit of the times in such an inspiring way.

Inspiring Message of the Day: I will look for opportunities today to connect with my fellow gems knowing we are all in this together and together we can make the world a more hopeful and unified place.