It's taken me a long time to create my column this week. I've thought long and hard about which topic to choose. I could have written about the fact that Dick Cheney injured a fellow hunter in a hunting accident (something that any hunter will tell you is simply a commonplace occurrence). I could have written about the fact that instead of focusing on the injured man the White House press corps is more concerned with the hours and minutes it took for the story about the hunting accident to be publicized.
I could have written about the left wing's tired, old whine that the Republicans and FEMA aren't doing enough to help Katrina victims but when turns out that many victims are helping themselves to FEMA's charity by using FEMA money to buy jewelry, pay off speeding tickets, pay for "adult" entertainment, etc. the Democrats now blame those abuses on the Republicans. We're damned if we do and damned if we don't.
I could have written about Iran 's shut-out of the IAEA and declination of Russia 's offer to provide enriched Uranium and how these signals tell me (and everyone else in the world with half a brain) that Iran is on the fast-track to acquire nuclear weapons.
Heck - I could have even written about Saddam showing up in court in a bath robe and his crony showing up barefooted in his pajamas.
Instead, though, I decided to focus on something positive. Instead of pointing out everything that is going wrong, I'm choosing to write about something that is going right.
Every couple of years athletes from all over the world converge in one location to compete against each other. There is more than just a title or medal at stake, though - each and every athlete carries the hopes and dreams of every single member of his or her country. A win isn't just a win for a figure skater or skier - it is a win for an entire nation.
Yes, I'm talking about the Olympic Games. No matter how many times I see the games I am still inspired by the sight of athletes from enemy countries standing and competing side-by-side. For a few short weeks every few years politics and wars mean nothing (aside from a few isolated disasters throughout the years) - all that matters is the game.
As I watched the opening ceremonies I was astounded by the athletes and the countries they represent. Take for example Robel Teklemariam, the Ethiopian Cross Country Skier. His family, Ethiopian natives, moved to New York in 1983 where his mom took a job with the United Nations. He lives, works, learns and plays in the US yet he is representing his native country in the Olympic Games as the only athlete in the delegation.
I watched and listened to the crowd cheer for every country - even countries we would consider less than diplomatic such as Iran and France . I watched as the athletes from all countries sat side by side during the ceremony and I though to myself how wonderful it is that for these few weeks we can forget our national differences and simply be supporters of our athletes in friendly competition.
Each and every athlete at the Olympic Games has earned his or her spot through years of training and plenty of blood, sweat and tears. I explain to my children what an honor it is even to be invited to the games; that simply being allowed to represent your country and compete is an honor only given to very few athletes. To win is an even greater honor and it is an honor not just for the athlete but for the entire country as well. Hearing our National Anthem as an American athlete receives the gold and seeing the raw emotion on the athlete's face sends tingles down my spine.
My children know that every athlete starts from the same place in the world - as a baby with the potential to do anything with his or her life. It is what we do from that point on that determines who we are.
We could simply choose to coast through life, never finding something we are passionate about and never becoming really good at anything. Or, we could try all sorts of things and become involved in our world. But, when we find that one thing whether it is competing in sports or teaching or being a politician, we need to choose to give 110% of ourselves and achieve the same caliber of success as each and every Olympic athlete.
Life itself is a sport. We can choose to either sit on the sidelines and watch or choose to play. When we choose to play we must play with the attitude that we are playing a team sport; that we need to help our fellow players. We must play with the attitude that we are playing to win, not just play. We must play by giving the game all of our effort. We must be Olympic Athletes in the game of life.
Yes, for a few weeks every few years something wonderful happens - the entire world is reminded that life is a game and that everyone is invited to play. The entire world is reminded that each and every one of us can reach our dreams - if we only dare to try. |