This past week, Dear Reader, I have reverted to the 8 year
old little girl who I had no idea was still alive and well inside of me. The
trigger? Well, it only took about 3 notes of the Olympic trumpet and drum music
to catapult me back in time to when I was on my parents couch circa 1984,
holding my Olympic-themed water glass and cheering on the athletes.
I don’t know what it is. It’s not like I wake up on
Saturdays and think, ‘You know what? I’m in the mood for some men’s
synchronized diving!’ I don’t surf through CNN, looking for pole-vaulting or
rowing, and I sure as heck don’t wonder if there is a local pick-up game of
water polo going on at the Y.
Yet, those are exactly the things that have me eschewing my
quickly-approaching deadline, glued to the TV from 8-midnight each night. I’ve
become an armchair critic (HOW could you have missed that landing?? Geez!), an
unrepentant sob-story addict (Grenada’s first Olympic medal ever?! *sniffle,
sob*), and the ultimate lover of good sportsmanship and class (I’m looking at
you, Sam Mikulak!)
I’ve bonded with
these athletes, glorying in their triumphs and suffering with their losses. It
makes me want to be a better person, to put a greater effort into everything I
do. This ole body of mine is never going to see an Olympic arena, but that
doesn’t mean that I can’t up the game in the things I am good at.
Gymnastics? That ship has totally sailed. Diving? I’m waaay to chicken
to do mid-air flips. But writing? THERE is something I can do better. I can
throw myself into it with the discipline and tenacity that these inspiring
athletes have perfected in their journey to London.
No matter what we do, we can apply the Olympic spirit in an
effort to live a better life. These men and women are an inspiration, positive
role models who we can all look up to. In an era of the media offering up the
Kardashians and Snooki as celebrities, the Olympians have provided something
else all together. I hope that a new generation of children has been inspired
to achieve, and that the spirit will live on in the days, weeks and years
following the conclusion of the Games.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go get another box of
tissues for the coming medal ceremony :-)
So tell me, have you caught Olympic fever this time around?
What’s your favorite event?
I found myself yelling at the tv "Swim faster! C'mon! SWIM!!!" Along with expletives that slip once in awhile. I am NOT a sports enthusiast at all but when they had the swimming competition, I was there with bells on.
ReplyDeleteAdria
LOL - I so did this! Like, "Come on, you're THIS close to winning, why can't you go faster?!" from the comfort of my couch - not to mention 9 hours AFTER the race occurred!
DeleteI get teary eyed every single time a medal ceremony is on; somewhat excessive, perhaps, but that's me. I love the swimming competitions the most. I'm always in awe of those who can do the butterfly! Whenever I try, I just end up splashing and sinking. They're a skillful bunch. And Michael Phelps is an inspiration and pleasure to watch.
ReplyDeleteIf the winner teared up at their anthem, so too did I - every single time! I love that wonderful feeling of accomplishment. Dude - you are the best in the WORLD at something!
DeleteOmogsh, if I yell "stick the landing" any louder, I might get banned from the house. LOL! It's amazing how much the Olympics bring out the best (crying over wins and dreams) and the worst (my grandmother can run faster than that. Now Run!!!).
ReplyDeleteI'll be sad when it's over. :}
I'm not sure your kids should get into sports - you may end up being *that* mother in the stands, LOL!!
DeleteI love the inspirational moments...the stories behind the athletes journey. Some have had an extremely hard journey. I love the gymnastics, archery, and track and field. Can't get enough!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, my BFF directed me to your work and website. She is the "Aunt Nance" to your cousin Heather from Indiana. So great to connect with you...
Oh wow - small world!! I'm so glad you found me - you'll have to give Aunt Nance a hug for me :-) Thanks so much for dropping by!
DeleteI love the Olympics, competition is everything. I like being able to see what other countries have to offer for athletes. I like knowing the top contender and then rooting for the underdog (unless it's against the USA of course).
ReplyDeleteThere is no real favorite event for me. I like too many to narrow it down to one, or ten, or even twenty. I was in heaven the first week because there was always something on I wanted to see. This second week, it's a bit more hit and miss. I don't really care for the track events. I love the field events but straight out running events aren't that interesting to me.
Still watching Diving, Syncronized Swimming, Volleyball - indoor/outdoor, water polo, and canoeing/rowing.
Ha - I actually love the sprinting! It's so fast and intense. Volleyball is one of the few sports that don't grab me - it just seems to take forever!
DeleteThe stories overcoming great obstacles are always my favorite, when someone wins and cries because it validates all they have struggled and fought for. I love that Michael Phelps lost his first few races so he could remember again how special and good it felt to win. I love the Dominican hurdler who kept pictures pinned inside his uniform of his mother and grandmother who had passed away and who cried uncontrollably on the gold metal stand. I loved the British long distance runner winning to deafening cheers of his hometown crowd, and the double amputee who made it to the sem-finals amongst "able" bodied competitors and then when he came in last, the winner was so inspired by him, he asked to switch name tags! I love Serena WIlliams' response when the flag fell during her gold medal ceremony that it was coming down to hug her, I love Missy Franklin's teenaged exuberance, and of course there is nothing more fun to watch than the Fab 5 winning gold. I love it all! Of course, as inspired as I am, I find it ironic that I've never felt lazier;p
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the lazier aspect! Man, I feel like such a blob watching them put everything on the line physically. As for the falling flag - did you pay attention to the words of the song that it fell at?! I don't know if that wasn't some sort of elaborate prank ;)
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