Watching History

Sometimes as we rush from task to task, caught up in the hustle of every day living, we forget that we are witnessing history all around us. Sometimes it is also worth stopping, thinking and acknowledging that history is all around us. Yesterday was certainly another such occassion as America elected it's first Black American President Barack Obama.

So often when we remember moments of history, it is the tragic that stands out. I still vividly remember where I was when I heard of the death of Princess Diana (a lazy Sunday afternoon at home) or where I was when I heard about the September 11 terrorist attacks (waking up in the middle of the night thinking I was listening to a new version of War of the Worlds). I have more difficulty remembering where I was for the achievements such as the release of Nelson Mandela (not sure), the first man on the moon (probably at school) and the felling of the Berlin Wall (?).

But I am going to remember yesterday. Driving home from a Conference feeling tired but inspired, I got a tingle when I heard the announcement and the speeches of McCain (in defeat) and Obama (in victory), both calling for unity, which I saw on arriving home, sent a tingle down my spine. One of my colleagues has a daughter in the States at the moment and she spent the day in a bar experiencing the event with Americans. She said she cried five times and received a note from an American War veteran thanking her for sharing the day with them. How cool is that!

So my challenge to myself, and to you, is the remember where you were when history was made yesterday, and to realise that history is being made all around us every day, for the people of the future to talk about and celebrate.