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I'm Inspired - Geri's Blog
Spirit, Intuition, Emotions, The Afterlife and Facebook December 13, 2009 I'm Inspired by being a student I’m inspired by the reminder we are all teachers and students as well. I was posting some information about emotions from Neal Donald Walsch’s book Conversations with God. I had been posting them on the facebook group: Joy Media’s Page for Inspirational Stories. Maybe I was trying to teach something, but I wound up learning much more. To paraphrase, I posted "thoughts are energy." Joyce wrote, "not just our thoughts, our whole bodies are energy." That made me think. If our bodies are energy than our bodies can receive (and sometimes trap) our emotions in various places. For me, the back of my neck, and sometimes the pit of my stomach. This made me think about The Dance, created by Sydney Lok. While The Dance is in its infant stages in our culture, it has a long history of helping monks in previous times. Sydney tells me "The Dance of the Golden Bow" consisted of movements done by the Golden Bow order in southeast China tens of thousands of years ago. She says even more recent, the ancient Essenes knew of the benefits of the movements. Now today, I am learning its benefits. The next time I do The Dance, I will have an expanded view of it because of what Joyce said. I’ll be thinking about moving energy and expecting emotions trapped in my neck and stomach (and other places I'm not aware of) to come up to my consciousness. I’ll be watching for what I feel and try to process it. Sydney's been telling me that’s what The Dance is supposed to do. But it's only today that I gained a picture of it in my mind. (Yes, I am a little thick in that area.) Thank you my teacher, Joyce. I was your associate producer at another time in our lives (Fox in Chicago). I’m fortunate we hooked up on facebook after all these years. The learning continues. -------------------------------------------------------- December 5, 2009 I'm Inspired by "Just Me's" Graphic Artist A big weekend here at Joy Media. “Just Me and the Trees” children’s book is back from the graphic artist. I knew Trina Kyounghui Yi would do a good job with it. I’ve worked with her on auction projects. Our kids go to the same school. I was right. I’d like your opinion, so I will try to post the front and back cover. Another landmark today, the 90th book pre-ordered. My sister, Gerarda Connolly, the book's illustrator, sold a copy to a friend in Carmel, New York today. I think it was at the St. James Bazaar. The writer of the book, Julia, was under the weather today. She went to her husband’s holiday party, but they left early because she wasn’t feeling well. I hope the cover and the art on the book cheer her up. --------------------------------------------------------- December 2, 2009 I'm Inspired by a job I really need “I really need this job!” My 13 year old sang in the car while we were driving home. He had just tried out for the role of Coach in LaSalle Language Academy’s version of Disney’s High School Musical. I did a double take. My baseball-loving, flag-football playing, basketball fan is singing a tune from A Chorus Line. It wasn’t long before the pieces fell into place. “Isn’t it funny how Will Ferrell’s favorite song in Land of the Lost fits so well with my audition?” Andrew said and then sang into the dashboard, “I hope I get it, I really hope I get it.” I told him about the story behind the musical A Chorus Line; a somewhat starving dancer praying that he gets a part in the show. He was impressed. “Wow,” then it fits even more," he said. “I hope I get it,” his melody continued. So, there I sat, in the car, on the Kennedy Expressway, and not even bothered by the traffic. I was thinking about his song, “I hope I get it. I really hope I get it.” Andrew's enthusiasm was bubbling over. His hope was inspiring me. It made me realize how happy I am that he's in my life. I love sharing moments with him. This one put a smile on my face. I’m inspired by motherhood: I really need this job! --------------------------------------------------------- November 20, 2009 I'm Inspired by A Chance Meeting With Oprah So Many Years Ago We’re both in Chicago, but Oprah and I never hit it off. I don’t know why. I remember our one encounter, years ago, when I was supposed to be a guest on her show. It was the nineties. The 1990's. I got the star treatment from her producers; a limo pickup from the house, a planned special meeting in the green room, and beverages before the show. The show was on “Family.” Several producers at Harpo knew me from our connections in Chicago TV News. And over the years, I’ve entertained many co-workers with stories about my family. One story in particular got me the invite to Harpo. I am one of nine children. Many of them are named “Geri.” Actually, there’s Jerry, Gerry and other spellings. But yes, it’s similar to George Forman’s family. Ha-ha. So, when Oprah’s producers were planning their show on family, I was one of the first people they called. What a hoot, they thought. I didn’t particularly want to share my story, but out of friendship, I agreed. In the end, it was not a story that Oprah appreciated. Here’s some of what happened: When I arrived, an intern escorted me to the green room. There, a producer apologized. “Oprah’s running late, I’m sorry, you won’t be meeting with her here.” This didn’t surprise me at all. Of course she’s running late. It’s TV. Later, I was escorted to the studio. The show’s associate producer sat me in a specific seat and said, “When Oprah comes out that door and up on that stage, the first thing she is going to do is point to you. You ready?” “Yes.” I said. I wanted to make her feel comfortable and not worry about this guest. Being a TV news producer, I knew all the worries that could be playing on her mind. I would not be one of them. She went backstage. The first segment came and went. Nothing. Oprah did look at me, but then quickly looked away. She talked to other people in the audience, but not me. Commercial break. The associate producer came out and said, ”We don’t know what’s going on. We’re telling her in her ear. She’s going to you next. Are you ready?” “Yes.” I answered like a good guest. The lights and music went up. ‘We are family, I’ve got all my sisters with me,’ was playing in the studio. Well, I don’t need to go on with how this morning taping went, I think you get the idea. After every segment, a visit by the associate producer or an intern. Then, the show ended. The lights went down, but just as quickly, they went up again. Oprah was sitting up on stage on top of a desk, relaxed because the taping was supposed to be over. But then I heard her say, “I’m only giving it two minutes.” She leaned back on the desk and pointed to me, “So, what’s your story,” she said. I stood up. I knew enough about TV to know, I could be on it. I smiled and said, “I am one of nine children. And five of them are named Geri.” I felt kind of stupid. Truthfully, I never liked the story, don’t like telling it, but I did it because a friend asked me to do it. “So, what’s the point of that?” Oprah asked. What was the point of this, I said to myself. Here I was on national TV maybe, defending my mother’s choices. But it wasn’t the time for introspection. I smiled. And I spoke: “Well, my mother prayed to St. Gerard when she was pregnant so that she would have healthy babies." (smile smile). “And,” Oprah sounded impatient. “Well, when we were born healthy, she thanked St. Gerard by naming us after him.” Silence. She didn’t get it. I continued. “You see, St. Gerard is the patron saint of pregnant women.” I heard laughter. The audience seemed to find humor in the devoted catholic woman reference, just like the producers had in the past. But from Oprah, I did not get, “Geri Heaaaaaaaaarne .. one of the Geri's is (deep voice) heeeeeeere!" No. My encounter with the icon was less than warm. As I left Harpo on my own, no limo available to take me home, I wondered about what happened. Did she size me up and think us not a match? Did she sense that I didn’t watch her show? I like Oprah and I like her positive attitude. But her shows don’t draw me in. (I know, I have to check my citizenship, am I really an American woman?) For the record, I did watch the show with Cher and Tina Turner. Twice. Two weeks later, the 'We Are Family' show aired. I received a few phone calls and even heard from friends and family in New York and California. I was on the Oprah show. Of course, I didn't see it, but was curious nonetheless. Especially when I ran into a Harpo editor who told me they got me into the final cut. I learned what that meant when I tracked down a copy. At the end of the show, with the credits already rolling, my small exchange with Oprah battled with the closing credits music. I marveled how anybody could tell that was me. Well, that was then. Here we are today. We’re both in Chicago. She has her show downtown for a little while longer. I sit in my home on the northwest side of Chicago talking about my one encounter with the Queen of Talk. It’s interesting to me that she is gearing down at a time when I am gearing up. Joy Media put out its first dvd, “The Dance” this year. In January, we’re releasing our first book, “Just Me and The Trees.” Thoughts about creating a TV show for inspirational stories to coincide with my website are starting to circulate. The Queen of Talk is ending her show in Chicago and the Queen of my living room is beginning a new chapter, too. Years ago, I was one the stories she didn’t particularly like. I wonder if she’d be interested in my story today. --------------------------------------------------------- November 12, 2009 I'm Inspired by Things You Can Count On We’re at that point in publishing “Just Me and The Trees” when we assign the ISBN Number. I get a little jolt when I do this, because I have to record it in my Bowker log and register it with the Agency. Then, I have to put the details on a website that will put it in Books In Print. I’ve only done this once before, so it doesn’t feel like an ordinary chore. Quite the opposite, I’m very careful about how I enter the numbers and how I describe the book. Is this book for parents or children? I think both, but the format – illustrations and short sentences -- would suggest it’s for young children. So, that’s what I will go with. Is this book instructive or entertaining? I think both, but “Books In Print” doesn’t give me the opportunity to explain that while the book presents an innovative way to deal with children’s behavior, it does present an interesting story as well. I go with entertainment. So many things to consider when presenting a book to an audience that is looking for just the facts, mam -- when I am not a just the facts, mam kind of person any more. Here’s where I’m inspired. The ISBN number. There’s no room for confusion here. It is 978-0-9800954-1-8. That is, unless you are looking for the ten digit number and not the newly formatted 13 digit. In that case, “Just Me and The Trees,” will boast of an ISBN Number of 0-9800954-0-0. Either way, look for us in Books In Print. --------------------------------------------------------- October 24, 2009 I'm Inspired by Being Alone The Spiritual Practice of Giving Myself a Breather It’s one of my most coveted and yet elusive of Spiritual practices: being alone. I love to spend time alone and when I don’t get enough of it, I get crabby. It’s been a fun but challenging week. Our foreign exchange student is adorable. He’s also very bright. He beat me in 4 out of 6 games of Chess. He’s beaten my son at his own game; monopoly. (Yes, Uncle John, Andrew lost his real estate to a Frenchie.) Little Benjamin with the red hair asks detailed questions about the cheese I offer him with his sandwich. He asks questions about everything that’s new to him. He takes notes. When Andrew gets tired of entertaining, I pick up the slack. In the midst of our new guest’s arrival, my older son is having the toughest week of his high school senior year. He’s been preparing for his onstage role in his High School play and studying for the college entrance exam. Throw in a physics and French 5 test and you get the picture. Then, in addition to the children’s concerns, my husband and I are going through our finances. Could we, should we get a new mortgage? Things are busy. Tonight, I made an executive decision. I would spend time with myself. Everybody benefits when I do, so nobody fought me on it. Because when I get crabby, it’s trickle down. They tell me no one is happy when I am not. But when I get time to myself, things have a way of balancing out. So tonight, my older son is performing for the second time in “The Curious Savage.” I won’t be in the audience. I am at home. And tonight, my husband is driving my younger son and his exchange student to their Saturday night parties. I will not be in the car. I am home. Later, when they meet up with the other LaSalle students at Navy Pier, they’ll eat at McDonald’s and watch the Fireworks. I won’t do those things. I will be at home. Maybe I’ll do yoga. Maybe I’ll eat some chocolate. Maybe I’ll listen to a radio program. Quite possibly I’ll catch up on "Mad Men." Whatever I do, I will do it alone. I don’t have to make anyone a sandwich, I don’t have to explain how I update my website. And I don't have to drive anyone anywhere. It’s just me. By myself. Doing whatever I want to do. So, if this is what I wanted. Why do I miss them already? --------------------------------------------------------- October 18, 2009 I'm Inspired by Two Moms Who are First-Time Authors I’m inspired by two moms. One is a former co-worker and the other is my older sister. One day I was at work and Julia Cohn and I began talking about spirituality and receiving messages of guidance. We continued our conversation from the newsroom to the parking lot outside WGN-TV. I remember the night because the sun was setting on a very puffy cloudy day. In this part of the city, the northwest side, you can feel the sky surround you. There are no tall buildings blocking the view. On this night, the clouds were hovering for as far as the eye could see. The sun was peeking out here and there. It created a beautiful light around us. As Julia spoke, I felt good vibrations. Julia told me about dreams she had about the children's book she would write. It would be about yoga and breathing correctly. It would be about how to have a better experience when things weren't going so well with the kids. She said the words came to her in various dreams. Then, one day the title of the book came to her; “Just Me and the Trees.” Her story moved me. I immediately thought of my sister Gerarda, who has been drawing her whole life. Our brothers and sisters admired her drawings throughout the years and more than once told her she should do this stuff professionally. Now, she is. I teamed her up with Julia and there was instant magic on paper. I think you can tell by the cover of this book, it will be a lot of fun for children to look at and read. There's a great opportunity to learn, too. Julia reads the book on a CD. She’s a former TV News Producer who has a voice for radio. It matches her nurturing attitude toward her children. I miss Julia in the newsroom, she left WGN last month to teach family yoga classes. The breathing techniques she describes in the book, help the kids and parents in her classes. Now, Julia's living her dream and spreading her insight. This book touched my heart from the very beginning. I am so pleased to be bringing it out through Joy Media. I am also proud of these two moms, Julia and Gerarda. They are first time authors. I wish them luck and much success. I already know they are inspired and talented. The pictures and the words in this book make me feel the same say way I did on the day when the sun was setting in the parking lot of WGN and Julia shared her dream. I get good vibrations. --------------------------------------------------------- October 12, 2009 I'm Inspired by Pain "Often it's the fear of feeling pain that causes the most of it. If you acknowledge pain, you can learn from it.” I posted that on my Facebook page because I picked the “Suffering” card from Sonia Choquette’s “Ask Your Guides” deck. The card laid it out. There is pain and suffering in life. And there is joy and love, too. I love acknowledging the joy, but the pain – not so much. If I believe the guidance from the card, I am heading for the pain part and my job is to acknowledge it. Recently I acknowledged some pain I was carrying with me for decades regarding two particular relationships (more below on Oct. 6th blog). I avoided looking at the pain in those relationships for so long because I was afraid it would show me something frightening about life and about myself. I was afraid it would show me I was not good enough. But just the opposite happened. I was shown how much I was loved. Last week, I sat with the pain. I asked it: ”What do you want to show me? What do I need to know from you?” Within moments I felt an incredible love. It came through my head and into my heart. Was that my answer? Did the pain want to show me love? If so, in waiting decades to feel the pain, did I also wait decades to experience the love born from it? I have questions. It sounds like a really big leap; pain to love. But it’s there. I experienced a tremendous amount of love when I opened up to the hurt. So now, based on the "Suffering" card, I might have another opportunity to experience pain. If so, I hope I can acknowledge it sooner rather than later and not wait decades to feel it. ------------------------------------------------------ October 6, 2009 I'm Inspired by the spiritual practice of "Going Inside" Going Inside For the most part, I try to practice the Abraham Teachings brought through Esther and Jerry Hicks (www.abraham-hicks.com). The teachings revolve around the Law of Attraction. Briefly, when you feel good, good things come to you. But there is another practice that can help you get to that good feeling place. I call it “Going Inside.” The road can be rocky, but it leads to beautiful results. Life changing, even. I go inside when I’m looking for an answer. This morning, I asked about a question I had for years: Why was a very brief relationship I had in my teens still coming up for clarification decades later? When it comes up, I feel unsettled and even unloved. The relationship lasted only 2 months. It was my first boyfriend. He was cute, smart, fun and he was an alcoholic. This morning, I went back to dissect it. I asked myself why did I have that experience and why was it still with me? Just what is it trying to tell me? Through those questions, I was led to glorious love – with my mother of all people. I felt my mother’s love pouring from outside me and filling my head and my heart. I had to sit with it for a while. It felt so good; so much more powerful than the resentful thoughts I still held for something I experienced a lifetime ago. But what was the connection between my first boyfriend and my mother? The feeling of my mother's love was a surprise. Our relationship has been full of friction. She was everything I didn’t want to be. She was a mother of nine children and stayed home to take care of us and our home. She cooked, she cleaned, she saved, she nagged. How boring, I thought. At the time, I had no appreciation for her and her choices. I hated that she knew nothing about the "real" world. Back then I was determined to see it all when I grew up. I would not be stuck at home cooking and cleaning for kids. I wanted to be a player in the outside world. I followed that dream. I worked weekends, holidays and overnights in the news business. After awhile, I felt a longing for something else. Over the years, the rift between me and mom grew. I was continually frustrated by her repeated questions about simple details of my job. "Are you on TV?" "Do you write what they say?" Then, every now and again: "You work for NBC, is it? You must know Katie Couric." I see now that mom was as clueless about my life as I was about hers. Back to the question this morning, about a nagging unresolved relationship. I saw that my own hateful and fearful thoughts about my mother (which really were my feelings about myself projected onto her), led me right into the arms of someone who would not give me anything back but hate and fear. My own hate and fear. The law of attraction. Did my denial of my own mother’s love pinch me off from a satisfying attraction in a relationship? Did my denial of mom's love pinch me off from a loving relationship with myself? This morning I sit here and accept this glorious love pouring through me. I can’t believe what I cut myself off from all these years. It's my acceptance of my own worthiness of love. I've been missing this for years. That's why this relationship keeps coming up. It's an opportunity to connect with that which I am not seeing and feeling. I didn't accept love from either my first boyfriend or my mother. And in pinching that off, I was not open to feeling the love I had for myself. I now have to laugh. The irony cracks me up. Today, I am off the office career track, not having reached my goal of becoming a News Executive. I work part-time news writing at the TV station and develop projects at home so that I could spend more time with my husband and my boys. I love them. In my world, there is nothing more authentic than that. This afternoon, I am picking up my son and other children to take them to the cross-country meet. I’ll have time to pick up Gatorade and snacks before the race. I’ll even take pictures for the school newspaper. And I am so very happy. To think, mom had it right all along. Now, some tears born of truth. My eyes are blurry, but I see the big picture. Some people come into life just knowing. i am not one of those ones. Because, these days, I cook and clean. I save and nag. I try to look the other way when I am not appreciated by my children. I do all the things mom did (although not as well). I experience the best this life has to offer: the love of self and whatever role one is playing. This is the "real" world. The Abraham Teachings say “Words don’t teach, experience teaches.” To that I add, understanding comes when you go inside. --------------------------------------------------------- October 4, 2009 I'm Inspired by St. Francis and his Prayers Prayer is a powerful spiritual practice. St. Francis of Assisi brought us several. The Catholic Church celebrates his feast day today, October 4th. St. Francis is known in and outside the Church mostly for his prayer of peace. It's opening lines are: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love." The whole prayer is at the bottom of this blog, if you are interested. St. Francis would fit right in with some of our leaders in thought today. He was a man ahead of his time. He communicated with animals and he championed ecology. This was in the 12th Century. Yesterday, I was inspired to post a meditation on the Sun. Today, I found this writing by St. Francis. ""The Canticle of the Sun." So, on another rainy day, I'm continuing my celebration of the Sun. Here are the two prayers. On St. Francis Feast Day, I honor what he honors; the Sun, the Earth and Our Creator. Blessings, The Canticle of the Sun by Francis of Assisi Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name. Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness. Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful. Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance. Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure. Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong. Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs. Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned. Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them. Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility. Peace Prayer of St. Francis Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Prayer of Peace Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) Roman Catholic friar, founder of the Franciscans Known as the patron saint of animals, birds and the environment --------------------------------------------------------- October 3, 2009 I'm Inspired by the Sun on a Rainy Day Meditation and Appreciation Some of the most popular spiritual teachers today talk about appreciation and gratitude. The attitude of gratitude, they say, can open your spiritual awareness bringing you closer to joy. The teachers also say Meditation can do the same thing. I needed inspiration on this rainy day, so I looked back on some summer writing and found a meditation I wrote after a walk in the neighborhood. Play some soothing music while you read these lines. You’ll combine at least two spiritual practices the sages use regularly: meditation and appreciation. Here’s to good vibrations! Walking Meditation on a Sunny Summer Day As I walk with the sun on my back up the alley and down the street, I ask you, God, make me like the sun. Make me like your sun, Lord. Your sun is ever present even on cloudy days when we can’t see your sun with our eyes. We know your sun is there. We know your sun lights up our days. We know your sun infuses our flowers and warms our animals and our earth. Make me like your sun, Lord. Bless me with its ever-present rays that give to all equally and never waits for receiving. But does your sun know he is constantly receiving our love? Sun, I tell you now, we are so appreciative of your rays and your ever-present love for our earth. Thank you sun. Lord, help me go about my day as the sun goes about its. Let me give off love and see minor irritations and conflicts with loved ones as only clouds blocking my rays. The clouds are nothing to the sun. The sun shines anyway. His rays are stronger than the clouds that dissipate eventually, just like I am every strong in any conflict that I face today. Let me see that. Let me be like the Sun. Thank you, Lord --------------------------------------------------------- October 2, 2009 I'm Inspired by Chicago’s Bid to Host the Olympics in 2016 and the Power of Hope In my life, both the Olympics and Chicago have lifted my spirits. In 1984 I worked on the Summer Games in LA for ABC Sports. I was a videotape researcher. I had a front row seat (via television) for most of the spirit filled victories and heart-wrenching defeats of the modern Olympic games. Part of my job was to help log the highlights for producers to use as needed. In 1989 I moved to Chicago from New York City. I fell in love with the windy city’s beauty, and I embraced its friendship. But if I were to be honest, I would tell you I'm not on the cheering squad for Chicago's bid for the Games. I’m already stressed out, even before the probability the world will come to my doorstep. A recent study said the people who live here are among the most stressed in the country. I can relate to that. I am paying too much money in taxes -- not only to the IRA, but property taxes are sky high. There’s a tax on everything here including the highest gas tax in the country. Even my food is taxed at ten percent. Throw on top of that the tuition we pay for my son’s high school and the exchange programs that will take both my sons to France this year – we’re spending a lot of money. My expenses are already meeting and in some cases not meeting my income. So, here’s this mega bid to bring the world to Chicago. And even though the politicians say the taxpayers won’t pay for it; I have been through enough of these “Read My Lips” statements; I know better. I can’t afford to pay this city or even this country any more money. My son was scheduled to watch the bid live in his classroom at school today. Walking out the door this morning, he said, “Mom, what do you think, don’t you hope we get it.?” I didn’t answer. He persisted, wanting someone to share his enthusiasm. “Mom, can’t you just wait to find out! I can’t take the suspense. I hope we get it.” “Honestly, Andrew. I’m not in that much of a hurry to find out.” He left and I was alone with a dream or vision I had last night about duality. I was shown by my Higher Self the two sides of things. With anything you can either look at it in a state of abundance or a state of not enough. Some would call this positive and negative. I wasn’t thinking about the Olympics last night during the dream. It was my bills I was thinking about. My thoughts were showing me a visual of what they looked like. On one side I saw the numbers crunching and not exactly adding up the way I wanted them to. The numbers were dark and they felt heavy. Then in another part of my mind, I saw a place where anything is possible. It is a place of unlimited ideas creating unlimited resources. It felt like a very light place to be. On that side, I saw opportunities. The positive side of the duality is a place where anything exists. If I want to make more money, I can find it there. If I want a new job, it’s there. If I want to manage money better, I can learn that, too. It’s a very light place and it is the dwelling place of hope. Hope is the energy the Olympic Spirit was built from. Hope brought me to Chicago as a young writer moving to the city where her boyfriend resided. It all blossomed for me here, but I haven’t been riding the wave of hope lately. I’ve been living a little closer to a place called despair. Talk about contrasts, in my inspiration business, I happily put a positive spin on everything. But my own worries about money are keeping me from celebrating the city’s bid. So, what to do about it? I want to change my negative thoughts about what Oprah calls “a seven year party.” I want to get into the Spirit of the Games. I want to fall in love with Chicago again. I want to stop focusing on the injustices of the tax system and ride the energy of Hope. Chicago is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And the Olympic Games offer an opportunity for Spirit to soar. The two should meet. I just need time to prepare. The decision is about two and half hours from being announced. Is that enough time to change my dominant thought on the Games? I hope it is. Editor's Note: Chicago was vote out in the first round. Rio de Janeiro won the bid. In 2016, it will be the first time South America will host the Olympic Games. The continent of Africa has yet to host.
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