This week I felt a little blue. Blue because around me people were cutting each other down. It was tall poppy carnage. It started with Mia Freedman’s comments about Cadel Evan’s Tour de France win.

Incoming! *ducking head*

Hear me out first loyal Mia supporters. Yes, she had a very valid point (as is usually the case) about celebrating people who achieve amazing things in fields other than sport. And to be honest, at first, like Mia, I didn’t care less about Cadel’s win either.

Until I saw the triumph etched on his face when the National Anthem played. It stopped me in my tracks. As I watched, even I (a self-confessed sporting novice) could see there was a much bigger story here than just a man riding a bike.

Mia seemed flippant on The Today Show (obviously unintentional, because it’s not usually her style). It looked like she was shooting from the hip; caught up in the moment. When all was said and done, unfortunately her important message was lost and she came out of it looking disrespectful.

Yes, she copped an absolute flogging in response, and no, I don’t mean to dredge it all up again (I’m sure she wants this behind her, but I’m equally sure she doesn’t read my blog). But what happened triggered me to think again about something I’ve mulled over in my mind for some time.

When did we all forget to be nice to each other? Is mutual respect now a social etiquette of the past?

Just look at the way politicians bully each other in this country (I’m not comparing Mia’s comments to this behaviour…bear with me as my thoughts flow). Look at the judgments made towards Julia Gillard for being unmarried and childless. Thank goodness she’s got thick skin, because I’d be running out of parliament in tears by now.

Look at the hate that so many people have for those who don’t look the same, act the same or love the same. And don’t start me on the vitriol that dominates our airwaves every day from some of those so-called shock jocks.

Yes, everyone is entitled to an opinion, as long as it is backed up with some important ingredients: a large helping of facts and a dash of empathy and mutual respect.

But it’s not just in politics or the media. It even happens on a micro level, in the office, the pub, on Twitter and the gym (yes ladies, I heard you sniggering at me when I lost myself to the music at Zumba the other night).

I’ve even been told by a number of people (family, friends, even my husband) that sometimes I can be ‘too nice’. Apparently the nice guy never wins. Another blog post for another day perhaps?

But there is hope, and it’s coming from the least likely place – the corporate world. Yes folks, usually the target of some of my more melodramatic blog posts about the trials of being a working mum or fake ‘impersonal’ professionalism.

I am in the middle of a dream contract with a large Australian corporate that I won’t name (although they might want me to after they read this) that is doing amazing things to support a ‘creatively safe’ environment for its people.

This company takes diversity, on all levels, incredibly seriously. It also insists that if you work there, be prepared to let yourself go, think differently, make mistakes (as long as you learn from them), even be a little crazy (like Zorba…a long story).

In this spirit, the company recently held its own ‘idol’ competition where videos of staff singing were placed on the company’s intranet for all to see. Some took it very seriously but no one judged, rolled eyes or took the piss. They just applauded and celebrated those who had the guts to do it.

So, I’ll finish by repeating something I tweeted yesterday during the depths of my blueness.

Why is it so hard for some people to celebrate other people’s success? And why do I suddenly sound like Kamahl? Be nice to each other…