As I sat watching the US Open quarterfinals, and several of the matches before, I was on the edge of my seat waiting for a miracle. Melanie Oudin, a 17-year old girl from Marietta, GA, was playing in her first quarterfinal pro game ever. She not only held herself like a true champion the entire tournament, but was also incredibly inspiring to so many young athletes after having been seated in 70th place and fighting her way to the quarter-finals. All though she lost, her ambition and mostly her spirit stayed with me. As she lost the quarterfinals, many said that the word “Believe”, which she has scripted on her shoes, didn’t carry as much weight…but the opposite rings true for me.
Let’s face it. It’s HARD to believe. Whether it’s believing that our health care system will ever be reformed, or that the economy will finally improve, or just on a day-to-day basis having hope and belief that we keep our jobs so that we can simply pay the mortgage. This historical recession has hit everyone personally one way or another. However, I choose to believe. I choose to believe that even though we still have a long way to go before we’re on the up-and-up again, that we will recover, and be stronger for it. All though I’m not a spiritual person myself, the human spirit is just about the most positive force we’ve got going for us.
As I was on Facebook today, a friend of mine mentioned that she lost her wallet. As many of you know, these days, that can be disastrous. It’s not just racking up charges on a credit card anymore, or having your license duplicated and made into 100s of fake IDs, now the concern is Identity Theft. Does someone really want to be me?! It reminded me of my one lost wallet story. Many years ago I lost my wallet on my home from an evening out with friends. As I exited the taxicab, I happened to drop my wallet under the cab, completely unaware of my mistake, I entered my apartment. When a police officer called me the next morning to confirm that I had indeed lost my wallet, I looked, and confirmed in shock. I was told my drivers license and credit card has been used by a transvestite to book a night at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco AND had ordered over $1400 of room service. I wasn’t sure if I was jealous since I had never allowed myself such a lavish evening, or upset that they used my license and passed for me!
My friend on FB today had a very different experience. As she was getting home from the grocery store ready to report her wallet and credit cards missing and anticipating days of headaches from the exuberant charges that would be on her cards, a couple drove up to her house and literally delivered her wallet to her! Now when does that EVER happen?
So, back to the light at the end of the tunnel...
Over the last few months, I have been incredibly inspired by so many courageous, strong and brave individuals and their difficult stories. I think tough times either make or break people…and we have a choice. I as an individual and we as an agency have chosen to Believe. To reach-out. We have decided to make it part of our goal as a company to lend our services to at least one non-profit organization a year to help make a difference in our community in the hope to make our small planet a bit better. This year we have chosen Assistance League Atlanta, a non-profit organization that is completely run by all volunteers and has enhanced over more than 1.2 million families, children and adults that are in need.
Reach Out. Inspire. And Believe.
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