Rings of Unity.

Today’s Marketing Cookie is a reflection on the unity and celebration that brings us together: one living room at a time.

I remember lying on the scratchy carpet in our living room with my big brothers, "Red" and "Nutts," and our little sister, "Babes," all of us captivated by the opening ceremony of the Lake Placid Olympics on our black and white TV. I was eight years old, and other than the fact that it was way past my bedtime, the excitement in our house made everything about the Olympics feel monumental. 

I didn’t get to stay up late every night, but I remember hearing the muffled sound of intermittent cheering coming from the living room as I drifted off to sleep. I don’t really remember the “Miracle on Ice” when the U.S. team defeated the Soviet Union in ice hockey, or Eric Heiden’s five speed skating gold medals, but I do remember Roni the Raccoon, the huge blizzard that gave us a snow day, and the warmest feeling of all of us being happy.

The Olympic logo is the most recognizable global brand in the world. It’s not surprising, but perhaps still amazing to consider that a logo which only makes an appearance for just two weeks, every two years can still captivate the hearts and minds of the entire globe. 

Those five interlocking rings of blue, yellow, black, green, and red are more than just a logo. They're a symbol of the world coming together. Each ring symbolizes one of the world's five inhabitable continents, and every nation's flag contains at least one of the five colors, illustrating how the Olympics bring together diverse cultures under a shared banner of unity. This emblem, which fosters fierce international competition, also transcends geographical and political boundaries to promote a spirit of global unity and reminds us of our shared humanity and the global village we all belong to.

Watching the Olympics as Americans, there’s a unique wave of pride that swells up in each of us as records are broken, and dozens of medals are won by our athletes. As they stand on that podium draped in the stars and stripes, listening to our national anthem, these moments feel personal. These victories are shared victories. All Americans, in every living room, come together, united by a sense of national pride, celebration, and hope.

The Olympics provide us the chance to gather together as a family, united in a spirit of patriotic pride for what has always made America great: our diversity. As we share cheers, marvel at incredible feats, and collectively hold our breath during spectacular performances, we all become one indivisible nation. Despite our many differences, we stand on common ground to celebrate, support, and most importantly, deepen our understanding of one another. For the next two weeks, we the people will thrive in the essence of today’s fortune as we "Get into the spirit of the times."