| Loving the Olympics (2/15/10) |
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Okay, so time for my quarterly post. I mean really, where does the time go and why does it seem to be in such a hurry?
I sit here, typing away on my laptop while the 2010 Winter Olympics play on the TV and I am in heaven. The beautiful weather today was an added bonus, a smiley face at the end of the sentence. I am on the upside of recovering from a cold, so my future is looking bright.
The Olympics, where do I start. I love them and I can say that quite loudly and proudly. Maybe it is because I have secretly always wished to be called "an athlete." In school, I was considered more the academic, nerdy smart girl than the "jock." I was never able to get an "A" in PE and therefore set the expectation of my physical abilities very low. Over the years, fluctuation in body weight has prompted me to get more physical, get my body moving, but I have never really enjoyed it until the last few years. I trained for a sprint triathalon, even though I did not really know how to swim and had to learn and yes, I am proud to say, I completed the event. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, yet when it was over, I still was not certain that I could call myself "an athlete."
I have practiced yoga on and off (more "on" lately) for over 20 years and found that I love it, love what it does for not only my body, but for my mind and my spirit. I have had to really listen to my body, to what it needs and I have learned that I need to be outside, communing with nature while I get my body moving. I love to hike and have recently discovered that I love to run. What a revelation that was as I always used to dread it. I realize that I do not do as well in the gym, I feel too confined not to mention judged. Judged by what I was wearing, judged by how much weight I did or did not lift, how fast or slow I was running on the treadmill, how much I sweated (and believe me, I sweat alot) and overall, I am just not that comfortable in the gym. I realize that this is only my experience of the gym and may not be be the experience of others and I am okay with that.
I am in awe of athletes. They amaze and inspire me. They push their bodies to the limit and then a little farther. I feel athletes have an incredible relationship with their bodies. They listen to them, they honor them and they work together to form an intimate partnership. They dedicate themselves to their craft and do whatever it takes to remain committed to that craft.
In watching the Olympics, I get to see athletes pursuing their ultimate dream. They are putting themselves out there, for all the world to see and regardless of if they succeed or fail at attaining their goal, they are going for it and that just makes my heart sing. How many of us put ourselves out there like that? How many of us pursue our dreams, regardless of whether or not we will succeed or fail, much less do it in front of others, be it 1 or 100? How many of us hold back, because of our fears, whatever they may be, and in the middle of a sleepless night, wonder "what if?"
I love watching the inspiring stories, as they share what motivates them to do their best, to push past their limits. We all need something to inspire us, and in sharing our inspiration, we just might be able to inspire others. The stories are incredible and so often, I find they put things into perspective for me, help me push through when I am feeling unable to continue on.
Being a writer, I can identify on some level with the athlete, because of the partnership I have with my creative spirit. Rather than me pushing it, sometimes it pushes me and because I remain committed to my craft, I have to let go and be lead, to trust in the process, to be pushed past what I think are my limits. I have to push past my fear of "putting it all out there" in front of others, be it the 1 or 100. I have to push past my fear of failure or even success and realize that regardless of the outcome, I would still write, I would still create. I do it because it is my passion, my bliss and my life would be colorless without it.
So, I watch the Olympics as one might watch a child playing with reckless abandon, no fear huddling around, trying to push it's way in, just pure joy, pure bliss radiating from my television set. Sure, there are disappointments and yet, that is a part of it. It's what pushes us to go further, to try again. I can identify with the disappointments and it makes me love the athletes even more. At least they tried, they gave it their all, put themselves out there and won't ever have to ask the question "what if?"
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Comments
You are stirring the athlete in me right now. I feel everything you are saying about the stories, the pushing through, and most of all, the connection with your body. When I am working out and in the zone, the sensitivity to the smallest thing in my body is so prominent, I love it. I love being able to tell what an action, a particular food, whatever will do to my body.
I also love the inspiration of being able to push through. It makes me think of the goals I have for this year, and how easy it would be to say "no, it just won't happen", but now I am rethinking them, and recommitting myself to them. They may be challenging, but that's what it means to be an athlete... facing the challenge head on and giving myself with everything I have to reach them.
Thanks again for the inspiration.
I know exactly what you mean in regards to the goals that I have for this year and where I am at in regards to accomplishing them. Things have not been going according to "plan" and so I find that I am getting frustrated, which interestingly enough, is better than beating myself up about it.
What has really been coming up for me it that everything is a process and even athletes have good days and bad days, days when they are completely in the zone and days when they aren't feeling it so much. It is those days that we have to dig deep and trust ourselves to know when to push through and when to honor our bodies, our selves, having faith that the process will work out and realizing that maybe our steps just need to be adjusted a bit. Just because things aren't working out the way we planned doesn't mean we give up, maybe we just regroup.
Your line "facing the challenge head on and giving myself with everything I have to reach them", really resonated with me - thanks so much for sharing!!