More cowbell, please

Hello there!  I know I owe you 1 million posts about Kenya, and believe me, they are definitely coming... but to get me back into the blogging world, I wanted to share some thoughts from the day.

Today was the 37th annual Chicago Marathon.  The route goes down LaSalle Street, which is right below my apartment, so I woke up to cheering, hootin' and hollerin' and cowbells.  Lots of cowbells.  I thought to myself, "Wow, what a great way to start the morning!"  And not sarcastically, either!

I couldn't help thinking, what if every morning everyone in the world woke up to cheers and cowbells, encouraging them and supporting them?  It is often a feat just to get out of bed in the morning - what if we got that much support as we faced the world each day?

The sign says, Hurry Ricky, Bears at 3:25.  Haha, love Chicago. 

Thousands of people came out today to cheer on runners.  It was so fun to hear people reading the names off of runner's bibs and shouting words of encouragement to these strangers.  People who didn't even know anyone running and people who had already seen their runner pass, but stayed to cheer on the slower folk.  It was extremely heart-warming and a fresh dose of humanity.    

What if we continued this sense of community and positivity toward each other this coming week?  Coming month?  Coming year?  What if we cheered on strangers throughout the day, instead of ignoring their entire existence?  What if said good morning in the elevator, rather than listen to our music?  What if we praised and complimented each other, rather than judge and take each other down, even if only in our heads?  What if we rang imaginary cowbells for each other?  

 

I also was thinking that a year ago today, I watched the marathon with four friends, I had just moved into my new apartment, and had no idea that I would have the opportunity to go to Kenya this year.  Today, three of those friends have since moved away, my apartment feels like home, and I am already back from Kenya.  It's crazy and encouraging how much can change in a year, for good or bad.  As much as I miss the friends who have moved away, I am thankful for a wonderful year and am excited for what is to come in the next.  I had a great weekend meeting new people and then enjoyed running into a friend today at the marathon (actually in the photo above, before I even knew she was there!).  This all makes my heart feel warm and fuzzy tonight.

I challenge you all to cheer on those strangers this week.  Talk to each other.  Cheer each other on.  Throw in some high fives and cowbells.  I promise it will give you that warm and fuzzy feeling.

A little more cowbell, please.  

carpe diem, hakuna matata, no day but today... redhead OUT. 

Namaste