Soon, the hard work begins. But yesterday was about celebration and dreams fulfilled.

Tuesday's inaugural celebration was inspiring to hundreds of millions of Americans and people around the world. President Barack Obama's well-known speechmaking skills were on display as he forcefully and soberly called for a new era of responsibility and for the resolve for Americans to "pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America."

The message in Obama's inaugural speech echoed many of the same themes he focused on during the campaign. So, the ideas were not new, but what was new was the reality that the words were being spoken by an African-American and member of a new generation of leaders, born after the baby boom generation. Obama's election and the serious challenges facing America combined to create an unusually strong mood for change and a new beginning.

Even skeptics, cynics and those growing weary of this week's Obamathon of events and speeches seemed to step back and marvel at history being made as an African- American was sworn in as president of the United States.

His unique gifts and personal charisma no doubt helped, but in many respects Obama was the right candidate at the right time. And many Americans express a feeling of destiny about his presidency.

Obama is described by those who know him best as a pragmatist, and most Americans look forward to a time when White House and national policy is driven by what works rather than what fits party orthodoxy or what is a payback to political supporters.

In his speeches as president-elect and in most of his cabinet and other high-level nominations, Obama is building an image of centrism and pragmatism. But he still has to prove those descriptions accurate by his actions as president.

There is excitement and enthusiasm for each inauguration and each new president, but this transition of power finds the United States and the world facing nearly unprecedented challenges, and most Americans appear unusually eager for a new approach to governing and a new team in the White House.

Beyond the obvious meaning to people of color in America, Obama has connected with the younger generation. Seeing young people's involvement in the Obama campaign and their ardent support for his candidacy is encouraging. And the prospect of their becoming more involved is appropriate, as they will inherit the country and all its problems in the coming decades.

Young people need to get involved and to have more hope in their country and their future. And Obama seems capable of inspiring them — and Americans of all ages — to be more optimistic, more altruistic, more visionary, and more focused on sacrifice and service to others than on personal gain or accumulation of wealth.

Yesterday's inauguration and the million or more people in Washington for the event provided clear evidence of that hope, inspiration and deep desire for change.

Only time will tell if the inspiring words of the campaign and the euphoria of the historic inauguration can be maintained and if Americans respond to the new president's call for responsibility, service to others and willingness to make hard choices.

And the tough choices will surely come. Obama cannot please everyone, including many of his most ardent supporters. If he does what he promises and offers new solutions while rejecting ideas and programs that do not work, regardless of which constituencies or political party might gain or lose, he will go a long way toward his promises of reuniting a country torn apart by partisanship.

The hard work and the tough choices will come soon enough. Yesterday was a day for celebration and inspiration.