Joy Drop: 81-year-old goalie an inspiration to all

Warm greetings to all my friends! As we get closer and closer to the holiday time, it's important to reflect on things that make us happy and things that still have a lot of work in them. 

I feel heartened every week when my friends send me kitten videos or I find a recipe. I am also buoyed by my colleagues and by my work and the places it takes me. 

I was in Geneva last week at the United Nations and had a chance to meet some amazing people from all over the world  who share a love of sports and a passion for human rights. I got to meet South African athlete Caster Semenya, and she is formidable in both her approach to life and her demeanour. I am also learning how pride and gratitude can be forms of joy in how they manifest. 

An athlete who caught my attention was Gerard (Smitty) Smith from Summerside, P.E.I. The 81-year-old hockey goaltender laces up his skates and hits the ice. He has been playing in a noon-hour league since the 1980s and has a fantastic view on mobility and athleticism: "You don't get old by playing," he says. "You get old if you don't play."

Throughout my career, I have been awed by athletes and my interview with Leylah Fernandez was no exception. Throughout our conversation I was struck at the poise of such a thoughtful young woman. We chatted about her campaign with Ritz called The Lunchbox Moment and what it meant to be deeply connected to your culture through food. Fernandez is advocating for kids to create safe places in their lunchrooms. I was so heartened to see this initiative. As I wrote in my column, a few less-than-pleasant memories came back. But Fernandez operates with kindness and from such an accomplished star, it also reminded me to hold a sense of pride in the other love of my