This is Us: How a popular TV show brings the past and future together - and the lessons we can learn

I’m sure that I am not alone in my obsession with the Pearson family and also in feeling rather devastated that this epic show is coming to an end after six seasons. There are now just a few episodes left and we are seeing the missing pieces of many character stories be revealed and resolved.

This is Us is that rare show that gives you the ending and then backfills everything. There will be no drama as to the show’s final scene, for we have been provided previews, again and again. But now there will be finality and an understanding of how we got there.

While not ingenious - certainly many stories have foreshadowed their ending - by sharing it upfront, this show is timely in an age where we more often binge watch to get to the end, filling our eyes and ears as we would our mouths at a buffet. We want instant gratification and there is an urgency to finish, borne out of our busy lives. The saga of the Pearsons works contrary and I find that comforting. We know the end and we patiently want to get there. We want more, we want to embrace every nuance of their lives, and better understand how some things make sense and others don’t.

The title is brilliant as well, because it represents a mirror we can all look into. We see ourselves in the characters. We have invested in their lives and they have presented a great reveal and now, the chapters culminating, we will fully comprehend the entirety of their legacy.

I can’t help but think about Tourism Cares and ask myself, what is our This is Us story? If it is built like the show, then we know the ending already. Or do we? For our community, it would be the ideal picture of a harmonious, sustainable, and prosperous world, where the people and places of travel are thriving - evidenced by people of every culture smiling with bellies full, skies clear, forests and wildlife fully nourished - a nirvana balanced by a flourishing tourism industry. The framework of this ending is premised upon collaboration, selflessness, and a prioritization of the overall good. I continue to ask myself if this is plausible, but also believe there can be no other ending.

To realize this, we will need more than six seasons to get there and if we don’t act quickly, our show may be canceled. But we are scripting our episodes and writing new chapters to get there. Like This is Us, we bring the past and future together. This month, we will be in North Lake Tahoe for the 19th season finale ending on one of our signature events, uniting the industry and inspiring them with shining examples of local change makers addressing their sustainability challenges. This community, these challenges are well known - lake conservation, wildfires brought on by climate change, and over-tourism, to name a few. We are also working closely with the Indigenous people of the area - the Washoe tribe - to help ensure all voices are recognized and heard when tourism comes to Lake Tahoe. And, of course, we will be rolling up our sleeves, getting a little dirty, and doing some volunteer work in and with the community!

Next year will be Tourism Cares’ 20th anniversary. From our beginnings in 2003, hosting a clean-up event at Ellis Island for 300+ industry volunteers, to where we are now, like This is Us, Tourism Cares has had many chapters, challenges and plot changes. How long will it take us to get to our glorious end goal? We ask you to stay tuned, but more importantly, get involved.

~ Greg Takehara, CEO, Tourism Cares