It’s Olympic season and we’ve been watching world-class athletes. There are more sports than we can remember that are competing in a competition of the world right now.<\/p>\n
I don’t know how to do the things these athletes can do. But as I watch and listen to the commentators giving critiques on their performance, I begin to see that the position of the parts of their body seems to affect the outcome.<\/p>\n
I might root for them, yelling at the TV “Keep your back straight! Watch the feet! THE FEET!”<\/p>\n
As if they have not spent thousands of hours learning how to do the amazing things that brought them to this pinnacle of athleticism.<\/p>\n
Who am I to tell them to do better?<\/p>\n
Of course I remember when I was younger, or in better shape, and could enjoy the feeling of my body being strong, quick and flexible.<\/p>\n
I admire them, and am awed by what they can do. I have a vague idea of how hard they had to work to get there. I know I will never be what these elites have become.<\/p>\n
And sometimes I listen to the commentators critiquing and myself judging what they are doing and think, who are we to be so critical?<\/p>\n
Have we done the work?<\/p>\n
It’s exciting though, to watch. My daughter was bouncing out of her seat as we were eating lunch at a restaurant and the Olympics were playing. Ski jumps.<\/p>\n
We were fascinated.<\/p>\n
Chris said, “It reminds me of Eddie the Eagle. Do you know who that is?”<\/p>\n
He was famous in his time. As a citizen of the U.K. he wanted to be an Olympic athlete, and though he could ski, he didn’t qualify.<\/p>\n
One thing the British Isles does not have is tall mountains.<\/p>\n
Eddie learned that there was no British ski jumping team for the 1988 Olympics, so he put himself forward as the contestant.<\/p>\n
He was not that good, but he showed up. And he got in.<\/p>\n
And as I watch these Olympics and feel inspired I can realistically know that sometimes my super power is in showing up.<\/p>\n
I can show up and give it a good go.<\/p>\n
That’s often what is needed most.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It’s Olympic season and we’ve been watching world-class athletes. There are more sports than we can remember that are competing in a competition of the world right now. I don’t know how to do the things these athletes can do. … Continue reading