Human Spirit

This past weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Knoxville, TN and cheer for my hometown Bearcats. It was a wonderful experience. While the game didn't go as planned, the people that I met - were absolutley fabulous. Wonderful. No less than 20 people and families went out of their way to welcome me to their campus, engage me in warm dialogue and wish me the very best. They spoke a little differently than me, were dressed in a peculiar blanket of orange, but their gracious hospitality and warm spirit was a common thread in each and every encounter. The thing is, no matter where you travel or venture - you will always encounter these differences - but the human spirit will always be alive and well. Look for it, seek it out and embrace it. New York City? Knoxville, TN, Brussels or Galway, Ireland. Difference with respect, is what makes our planet a beautiful place. Different by design. I remember traveling through the South & West of Irleland in 1995 with my wife and the stories and people there have forever changed my life. Coming home on the plane I looked at my wife and simply uttered, "I had no idea people like that existed". Sad but true and wonderful none the less. People that truly cared about you, your conversation, your well-being. Complete strangers that enjoyed and embraced all our unique stories and human spirit and NO agenda whatsoever. Humility, optimism, passion and a warm loving heart. September 11, 2001 did forever change the world, but it also displayed much of what we already know to be true about the human spirit. That is what will NEVER change in mankind, and ten years ago, '9/11' simply offered a global stage for this to be on display in real-time media like never before. We all may be unique & different in some way, but ultimately the human spirit will reign supreme as a common thread in each and every one of us.