I had a crappy week, but it ended gloriously.

Starting off Monday mornings with a 4:30 am wake-up is brutal, and it doesn’t get any easier with repetition. I get in the car at 5:15 and I open my laptop. For the next 20 hours, I’m analyzing data, writing emails, scheduling meetings, or talking to clients. Sometimes it feels like I never get a moment to stop.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my job. I work with brilliant down-to-earth people and I’ve been lucky to get staffed on some exciting projects in the media industry. I’m learning something new every day. The best days are usually the ones where I see a direct impact of my actions on the client’s business.

But I don’t get many chances to come up for air. My laptop and blackberry enable me to work nonstop, so I don’t get to enjoy the scenery much.

On Thursday afternoon, I walked home from the train station in Stamford. I was exhausted from a long day, and I had a long night of work ahead of me. My spirits were down.

I got off the train and took the steps to the underground walkway that leads to the street. The path was blocked by yellow police tape, and there were security guards everywhere. Naturally I was curious.

Turns out there was a movie being filmed. I usually make a point of not gawking at celebrities…they’re just people after all. They should be gawking at me!

But then I realized that this was probably that DeNiro movie that’s being shot all over downtown. Which means Drew Barrymore was probably in the vicinity.

I have a crush on Drew Barrymore.

My wife has given me permission to have my way with her, should Drew be willing and interested. People are usually surprised that my 1 get-out-of-jail-free choice isn’t some rail-thin supermodel.

I think my crush started with her performance in E.T. I know, I know, she was like 6. Before you get all weirded out, please realize that I was also about 6. So it was perfectly natural.

Anyway, I didn’t see Drew at the train station. But just the thought of running into her was enough to add a little pep to my walk. And calling Greta to flaunt the increasing likeliness of my infidelity was fun, too.

Next, on my way up Atlantic Street, I passed a road race. Healthy good-looking people filling the streets doing something healthy. Music. Food. Families.

I also passed a handful of bars and restaurants, all with outdoor seating. Love was in the air. People were everywhere, all over downtown, frolicking in the springtime weather.

My troubles melted away. I imagined myself in a modern day community celebration….like those scenes in Braveheart where the entire village celebrates someone’s wedding, and everyone is happy and safe.

My senses suddenly became aware of the beauty all around me. Trees and flowers in full bloom. A light breeze carrying strange and wonderful scents. I felt like giving my wallet to a homeless person and breaking into a yodel.

To top things off, I witnessed a reuniting of mother and daughter on my building’s front stoop. An Asian man stood with his daughter at the front stoop. A taxi pulled up. The little girl (4 years old?) ran straight for it (right past me) with a giant smile on her face and her arms opened wide. The mother was barely out of the car when her daughter collapsed into her arms. The father filmed the entire scene with a video camera. I almost cried!

There’s so much beauty and joy all around us, and all it takes is a little heightened perception to observe the everyday miracles that make life worth living.

I’ll get back to the cynicism and whining tomorrow.