Quick note before we jump in. The Optimistic Outlook book is now available on Amazon. It brings together the best posts from the last year of this newsletter. If you or someone close to you enjoys short inspirational stories, it makes a perfect gift.

There are places you walk into that immediately tell you someone cared.

That was my example at the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida. On the outside, it looked like a pretty pink hotel in downtown, steps away from the water. On the inside, the interior design was a nod to the past, but not stuck in it, with an intentional blend of modern edge.

But what makes this place so special is that I found out it was once left for dead.

The Vinoy was abandoned for years, written off entirely. It was ugly on the outside and falling apart from the inside. It was a perfect candidate for one of those videos that show a building being blown up. But instead, a group knew its history and chose the more challenging path. Instead of tearing it down, they restored it.

Today, it doesn’t just exist; it well surpasses its former glory. It was so aesthetically pleasing, and the hospitality of its people was so excellent, I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind.

But here is the truth we don’t say often enough. If you’re still standing, you have potential for restoration. Or said more bluntly, you are worth restoration.

It doesn’t always mean a complete overhaul or taking it down to the studs. You don’t need to become something entirely different. Just like the Vinoy, the goal isn’t to erase what came before, but to preserve its magic, strengthen what weakened, while maintaining the integrity of what got you to this point.

Whether you visit the Vinoy or not, the question worth sitting with today is simple: What part of your life has been sitting untouched that might need care and attention to come back stronger than before?

P.S. I included some pictures of the hotel and my experience below. Enjoy.

Check out the Optimistic Outlooks podcast and leave a review to help the show grow.