Saturday, February 15, 2014

OLYMPICS – so much we can learn




The Winter Olympics are in full swing. Twirling, gliding, sliding, jumping, shooting (yeah, I know, rather weird), flying, winning, losing, falling, crashing and so forth. We are thoroughly entertained by some 3,000 athletes from a bunch of countries, and I am in utter awe. No, it’s not so much from the competitions; it’s watching the pure undiluted joy, energy and love for what they do, that I see in their faces. Those smiles and that tremendous show of exuberance, camaraderie and respect for each other is so inspiring – something that should really rub off on all of us; this is something we should all try to do – every day. Don’t you agree?


I have always respected people who are really good at what they do, excluding anything illegal, obnoxious, rude or pathetically stupid. It encourages me to do better myself within my abilities and at times beyond. So when I watch these, for the most part youngsters, show so much energy, so much enthusiasm for what they do, what they do so well and working so very hard at doing, I feel energized to improve what I do well and try even harder to improve what I don’t do so well (like going 80 miles an hour, on a small piece of plastic with blades, wearing a tight-fitting suit). What we are watching should inspire all of us – and I hope it does.


I was watching a women’s snowboard event and of course was totally blown away by what they can do and what they do so fantastically well; absolutely awesome. But what really blew me away was how these 'competitors' stayed around at the bottom of the hill after their own runs, waiting, cheering, screaming, encouraging and yelling for the other girls to do well. And when one by one they crossed the finish-line, they all hugged each other, laughed, smiled and hopped up and down. Surprising?


Yes, it surprised me, as this was a group of girls/women crossing international borders, all from different countries showing absolutely no signs of envy, jealousy or differences. It was only sheer joy between them – the utter happiness, support and excitement from being there, that very moment – for all of them, individually and together; something to learn, huh?


Torah Bright (Australia) Kaitlin Farrington & Kelly Clark (USA)


So I started to watch with that in mind; do they all participate in these games with the same attitude? And I found that they do. Cross-country skiers, both genders, would give their all on the course and fall down as soon as they crossed the finish line. And then they would bring on those fabulous smiles, hug and greet and congratulate each other for the effort, for giving everything they got – across international borders, no matter where they came from.

Of the 3,000 athletes who made it to Sochi, just a few will do that ‘winning’ thing. I am positive that a vast number already knew before they left for Russia, that winning any medals would be unrealistic. But then you hear them talk about, with huge smiles, how they aimed at other goals, personal bests, etc. Being selected to represent their country and their sport, for the most part seems to humble them, but with pride and determination, to do well, to give it all, leave everything on the track, ice or snow – wherever. And when we watch from our cushioned comfy-chair, pressing buttons on the TV remote, we can clearly see that they all do that, giving everything and then some – and that is just so awesome.


When we watch, keep in mind how much time, sacrifice, discipline, effort, (blood), sweat and tears have brought them in front of us. An American girl talked about how her parents sold a cow here and there for her to be able to afford getting to the local competitions to improve and ‘perhaps someday’ get to the Olympics. Her praise and total love for her parents and their dedication, was loud and clear. She was asked: “So how are you going to pay them back?” She smiled that fantastic smile, held up her gold-medal and said: “I think this might do it”, through tears of joy - mine too.

We are watching performances that blow us away. Try not to be blasé about watching, but try to observe with the full understanding that this is NOT about winning, no matter how nice it is to ‘win’. This has everything to do with simply being part of something so big and so awesome; it’s about participating, building friendships across borders and suck in all those fantastic moments that none of them will ever forget – how great is that?


Swiss skier Dominique Gisin is best friends with Tina Maze from Slovenia. They are both excellent downhill skiers and probably met through the sport they both love. They skied as competitors a few days ago, and what do you know; they both won gold - a first in winter Olympics. Both skied the time of 1.41.57. How about a friendship across borders and down the mountain – rather fast; and then hitting the same time, in a sport where one hundredths of a second is very big.


I am so in awe and utterly inspired by watching all this Olympic stuff (except curling – have no bloody idea what the heck is going on). I find that my daily exercise and fitness routine has been tweaked a lot, by pushing myself more, working harder because “they do” right there in front of me. 


I smile big as they smile even bigger – win or lose. They smile just because they are there and they fully appreciate it, the honor of representing their country, their sport, the camaraderie and the many friendships they find across so many borders. And all in spite of who wins or not – because they are also fully aware and do fully understand, as we all should and must do, that NONE of these Olympians, these wonderful athletes entertaining us with what they love to do and do so well, are losers to any extent – not even close. Their energy and exuberant smiles tell all. To me they are all winners, every single one of them; and isn't that awesome. I knew you would agree...


 No, this is not me. When I ski like that, I wear green.