So much of our life du jour right now feels political.

So much of our lives today is also about choices.

This includes whether you choose to be two feet in on your country.

Conflicted from that thought?

I get it. I really do.

Remember:

I am wired for optimism.

While I am not tone deaf to the realities of this far-from-perfect Union, I do NOT have a conundrum on my hands. I simply cannot help myself but to be excited for the adventure in front of me.

Today brings us the opening ceremonies of The 2026 Winter Olympics.

And on Sunday, during “America’s Biggest Event” (The Super Bowl), I will be in the air to experience Italy and the Olympics for the first time.

I would say that most don’t feel “Patriotic” right now.

But I am making the choice to go to another country and root on our very best winter athletes.

Just under a decade ago my company was hired to rebrand the US Ski & Snowboard Association.

During that time, I met Aerial Mogulist Jaelin Kauf.

Jaelin has gone through my elite performance coaching program and what came out of it for her was clarity, confidence, and her personal tagline: “Deliver The Love”.

While Jaelin is on a mission to help others “Own Their Mountain”, this week I’ll join her family as she gets the opportunity to slay a mountain of her own.

How can you not be patriotic about that?

I had Jaelin on The Courageous Podcast last week which you can soak up here.

For the first time in 250+ episodes, I also went “solo” on my own podcast this week to talk about America including the fears I have about the “USA brand”.

You can hear that here.

I hope you choose to enjoy watching some of our very best athletes compete over in Italy. Maybe (just maybe) we can go more patriotic and less politics at least for the month.

Go Jaelin! Go USA!