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O.k. I Am Hooked...but Why???
I am hooked on the Olympics, not only because of the incredible athletics, but because how it has inspired me. I now see what I was missing all though out my youth...
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I gotta admit it… I am a late night Olympics junkie… I am totally amazed at that these kids are doing… Like everyone else on the planet… but here’s the thing… I wasn’t this way years ago… what changed… them or me...? (I think we know the answer to that).
When I was in my 20s, the Olympics was something to do while drinking beer with friends in a crowded bar (don’t get me wrong, it still is that today) and I understand the attraction. In my 30s it was something you hoped to watch, but the little kids in your life would have a need and pull you away. Now in my 40s, along with those kids (who are now grown teenagers) we watch from the comfort of our home on the 73” high def TV, prone on a leather couch in my media room....So I guess that is one change… but the real change is more about understanding…
Having almost 5 decades of life experience, I now watch the Olympics with an understanding of what these “kids”, these incredible athletes, have to do to get to where they are today.
Think about this… in a world of Ipods, video games, computers, school work, kid politics, MTV, my big fat sweet 16 party and the all the tabloid trash....these “kids” have the mental focus and strength to gather their clarity to compete on the world stage in front of 80 million people! Honestly, I don’t know if I could do it… but then… maybe??? nah, no way!
My 19 year old daughter, while we were watching Nastia Liukin on the uneven bars, said, how can she remember all of those moves...and we discussed how they have been doing these routines every day, for years, 1000s of times...with one focus in mind...to be exactly where she is...the goal was set the day she was born (her father was a Russian gold medalist 20 years ago). We discussed and compared it to things my daughter knows and does well...and how she learned them step by step and from repetition… she is good at a lot of things… however, she is a world class text messenger...she won’t win a gold metal or get nationally acclaimed, but she is fast… :)
The reason all of this is resonating with me, I guess it’s because I have change. My view of what these kids can do astounds me on an inspirational level...not only because I am more in tune with what it takes to do it, but maybe I am more in tune with receiving it and what it means to the world. Seeing a 16 year old girl go into her zone and focus on her goal, and to come away with perfection...was inspiring...to this 48 year old couch and computer jockey… It made me realize (again) that we are all capable of some amazing things...if we have a huge goal, take it “step by step”, do it over and over again and focus on it until with get it prefect...the idea that failure is not an option drives and Olympian and business person alike.
People love to argue, well it’s their genetics (Micheal Phelps), their upbringing (Natia Liukin), their this or their that… I say...it’s their mindset, which is something that each of us can totally control in our lives. They decided to achieve what they have, first in their mind...the rest was all part of the process, they decided to be the best… some might say...what about someone with no legs, they can’t win a 100 meter sprint...but that isn’t even true any longer...Someday, we will see a physically challenged person compete with naturally capable people in our lifetimes… what will you decide to overcome in your life???
Ask yourself this question… if you knew you could, what would you do? What great things would you set out to accomplish...what income level would you achieve, what impact would you have on mankind. Unfortunately, as adults, we allow the self limiting beliefs imposed on us in our youth sneak in a block us from what we want. Once we release them, anything we want can be achieved.
I guess in some respects the Olympic athlete has to be young, so their bodies can take the punching level of exercise to get into shape and their minds are full of confidence devoid of doubt. If only we, as adults, could get our minds back to that youthful place where anything is possible...because it is...go for your dream, don’t be held back and allow what you want to fulfill your life.