Belonging to each other

how the Olympics brings us together...

Jul 28, 2024

“I hope that people will finally come to realize that there is only one race - the human race - and that we are all members of it.” ~ Margaret Atwood

Growing up one of my favorite memories was watching the Olympics. It didn’t matter if it was the summer or the winter games, there was just something so special about this world-wide event.

Before the days of the internet and smartphones, the Olympics was a time to learn about other countries and see people and places you usually only read about in books and magazines.

I still remember as a child, pulling out the World Almanac and looking up the flags of different nations. Watching the parade of athletes with their flag bearers in the front and seeing the variety of traditional costumes and cultures on display….it was just very exciting to me.

That excitement was also inspired by my parents, who introduced me not only to watching the Olympic games but perhaps, more importantly, to enjoying the opportunity to learn about different cultures and ways of life.

They viewed the world as a wonderful place to be curious about and explore and they taught me the importance of not fearing the unknown but instead asking questions and learning about it.

So I naturally think of them as I watch the Olympics, especially the opening ceremonies. This week my son was home visiting and we had great discussions about the different countries represented, each one eagerly waving their flags and cheering…and afterwards I reflected…

Why is it so hard for us sometimes to see others as our equals? Why do we fear something we don’t understand? Why are different languages, religions or cultures sometimes seen as threatening to us?

The truth is that we have much more in common as human beings than we have differences. We love our families. We take pride in our communities. We help those who need it.

We value education and we want what is best for our children, our friends and our neighbors.

Anytime we can promote the positive in each other, the better off we are as human beings. When we focus on the negative in each other, the worse off we become.

The Olympics will remain a celebration that I continue to enjoy and will hopefully do so for years to come.

Besides the examples of perseverance, competition and athletic excellence, they also give us a chance, as a planet, to remember what connects instead of divides us…

…and that can be very refreshing…

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Tranquil Moments…

I asked my niece, Jennifer Malphy, if she could share some of her nature photos with my newsletter audience. Each week I will feature a new photo. Here is this week’s:

This week’s Smile video…

During a 2019 classical music concert at Symphony Hall in Boston, a 9-year-old boy shouted "wow" at the conclusion of Mozart's Masonic Funeral Music. Five years later, his response still resonates. Steve Hartman has more.

#believe #smilevideos #spreadkindnessandlove

And that’s a good thing…

I’m sure I am not alone when I say that Celine Dion’s performance at the Olympics was awe inspiring. It is even more impressive after watching her documentary about her struggles with stiff-person syndrome. That performance was the definition of the perseverance of a “vocal” athlete…and that’s a good thing…

What I am watching…

This week I watched I am: Celine Dion. This documentary gives us a raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar’s struggle with a life-altering illness.

In 2022 she was diagnosed with a rare neurological illness called stiff-person syndrome, which involves debilitating muscle spasms. It is one of the “invisible illnesses” involving autoimmunity. It became so difficult that at times she could not do daily activities including walking and singing became impossible due to the muscle spasms.

Serving as a love letter to her fans, this inspirational documentary highlights the music that has guided her life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit.

What I am reading…

This week I started reading the book The Road to Character by David Brooks. I started reading this book as part of a college class I am taking and I must say it is a great book!

The Amazon description is as follows: “With the wisdom, humor, curiosity, and sharp insights that have brought millions of readers to his New York Times column and his previous best sellers, David Brooks has consistently illuminated our daily lives in surprising and original ways. In The Social Animal, he explored the neuroscience of human connection and how we can flourish together. Now, in The Road to Character, he focuses on the deeper values that should inform our lives.

Looking to some of the world's greatest thinkers and inspiring leaders, Brooks explores how, through internal struggle and a sense of their own limitations, they have built a strong inner character. Labor activist Frances Perkins understood the need to suppress parts of herself so that she could be an instrument in a larger cause. Dwight Eisenhower organized his life not around impulsive self-expression but considered self-restraint. Dorothy Day, a devout Catholic convert and champion of the poor, learned as a young woman the vocabulary of simplicity and surrender. Civil rights pioneers A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin learned reticence and the logic of self-discipline, the need to distrust oneself even while waging a noble crusade.

Blending psychology, politics, spirituality, and confessional, The Road to Character provides an opportunity for us to rethink our priorities and strive to build rich inner lives marked by humility and moral depth.”

Podcast picks…

Katie Couric is back on the mic with a new season of intimate, urgent and unexpected conversations – this time with a new twist. Along with her signature in-depth one-on-one interviews, she’ll be joined by a number of special guest-hosts for a series of “Katie Plus One” episodes. Together they’ll get to know some of the world’s most interesting and influential people and explore the big ideas percolating in the zeitgeist--but with a focus on slowing down, diving deep, and connecting with each other, a reprieve from a culture obsessed with hot takes and surface-level small talk. Tune in every Thursday and join Katie Couric and her guests for a conversation that feels like a warm hug and a seat at the table.

Mind/Body connections…

Release all stress and strain in this relaxing guided meditation with Dr. Bernie Siegel. See the world and your challenges as a classroom of resources. As you change your view on what you currently face today, knowledge, insight and solutions appear easily and effortlessly. As you sink deeper into a relaxed state, you’ll instantly feel calmer and more empowered as the worries fade away, if only for thirty minutes. Give yourself this time and a quiet space to go within and quiet the thoughts that trouble you. Take the time to heal yourself – you deserve it – you are a gift. Use this meditation often if you are experiencing stress and strain or facing challenges that may be affecting your health.