My outlook lately has been so positive lately that’s difficult to put into words.

If you told me six months ago I’d be packed into a convention centre room with several thousand people, where an unapologetic policy nerd delivers lines such as “I’m a pragmatist” and getting roaring applause as the reception… I’d have told you to stop taking the crazy pills.

It’s beyond even just simple cliches like “am I dreaming” because I just could not comprehend the remote possibility of something like this. Not even in the wildest dreams.

Could not imagine that we’d get a Liberal party leader who thinks in terms of market realism but not blind worship of the free market, who is both an insider who understands how the world economy works but also how it has failed people. Someone who is focused on results and not process, someone thoughtful and intelligent. Someone who has said the things that I’ve been screaming into the void for a decade — but saying it better.

And not just that, but that Canadians are responding with passion, engagement, and enthusiasm. Many on the right want their ideas expressed by an adult who has experience and shows true leadership, and isn’t preoccupied with the bully tactics of the American culture war or empty populist slogans.

Many on the left are willing to throw their hat in for a guy who worked for hedge funds and central banks all his life — despite the many severe failings of neoliberalism — because he wants to make markets works for people. It’s absolutely wild seeing a group of left-leaning people cheer on the idea of having the strongest economy in the G7 and expanded free trade within Canada and with Europe, Mexico, and other allies around the world.

And the craziest thing of all is that we’re going to win. By a lot. Because I see the polls showing it, I see people like me out there volunteering. I see my own city’s record-breaking turnout numbers for a by-election that doesn’t even change the balance of power on the council, despite unheard-of queues. People aren’t going to stay home because it’s a blowout, they are gonna be at the polls in droves to register their participation in the process.

And we see real progress outside federal politics too. It’s wonderul to see how a leftist firebrand like Charlie Angus has blown up in on social media and on the success of his cross canada tour. I see folks like Wab Kinew in Manitoba pushing hard on leftist changes and getting a great reception for it. I see Americans on their streets fighting for their country en masse, and folks like AOC and Bernie Sanders rallying huge crowds.

Four months ago I would have given this a probability of 0.0% — but here we are. Smug cynics like me have said things like “this is the worst timeline” and felt like we had no chance against the apathy in the modern age. But we do have a chance.

I’ve always repeated that the cliche of “may you live in interesting times” was actually a curse. But now that the interesting times are here… it feels like a goddamn blessing. I’m here for it.