Monday, July 23, 2012

Noble Undertaking

Photo: www.blog.utest.com
I first wrote this article in February 2010, prior to the Winter Olympics that year.  We are now approaching the Summer Olympics of 2012, so I am adding on to this original post.  My thoughts haven't shifted to any large degree and I think this article still stands strong enough to be shared again.

The Summer Olympics begin this year the weekend of July 27th.  Those who know me well are quite aware of the fact that I'm not the most athletically gifted person in the world.   I was never one to join team sports or be a fan of getting sweaty and dirty while pushing my physical limits to extremes in the pursuit of athletic excellence.  It may seem contradictory, in light of these facts, that I am a fervent fan of the Olympics.  I admit it's a bit unusual for someone who is not all that athletic to be so dedicated to watching the penultimate two week period of all things athletically related.

Why am I such a fan?  What is it about the Olympic Winter and Summer Games that captures the attention, imagination and hearts of the whole world?  One reason is simply that very fact...it is a moment in time where the whole world is focused on one brief window, one narrow, specific place on the planet, where a small retinue of talented young people gather from every country, in peace, to compete in a variety of individual and group sports.

The Olympic motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius", a Latin expression meaning "Faster, Higher, Stronger".

The Olympic Creed is...


"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well." (Olympic Motto & Creed, Wikipedia)
During every Olympics, there are remarkable stories of incredible feats of athletic strength, courage and endurance that, any other time, would be considered unreachable, impossible to achieve. Yet, they do happen, and the blooming of the human spirit, the digging deep within that these young people do is what speaks to each of us in a way that is so touching. We collectively witness athleticism at its highest, most pure level....drama, unparalelled pressure and demands on the human body, excitement and patriotic fever run rampant. Indeed, many of the most memorable moments during the Olympic Games aren't of gold medal winning performances - they are of the enduring human stubborn refusal to give up that burns in the hearts of these athletes who push themselves to finish their race, their sport, their individual competition, because they are at the Olympics.

In ancient times, warriors would compete in the Greek Games in peace, setting aside their weapons and coming together in the spirit of the Games.  This most vital component exists today in our modern Olympic Games and, I feel, is another reason the Olympics are such a unifying moment for the entire world.  Thousands of hopeful young people gather together for this same noble concept.  Most of them will not win a medal.  For the majority of the athletes, simply winning a spot on their country's Olympic Team and making it to the Olympics is a dream beyond compare and a once in a lifetime experience that few are blessed to live. 

For me, it is a two week period that is full of hope, and a purity of energy that lifts the whole world up.  I watch everything during the Olympics and it is extremely important to me, when a U.S. athlete wins a medal, that we are able to witness the medal ceremony and hear our National Anthem being played.  I get choked up every single time I hear the U.S. National Anthem played, and my emotions are racked higher during the Olympics.  It is a "feel good" moment that lasts for two weeks and creates some of the most enduring memories.

If any of the people reading this post watched the last Summer Olympics with me, who among us will ever forget watching Michael Phelps break the swimming records and medal victories set by Mark Spitz in the 1970's?  I watched, absolutely spellbound, wishing with all my heart for that young man to achieve the goals that so many doubted, scoffed and outright declared were impossible.  And, he did achieve them...every single one.  I watched every single event he competed in and I witnessed every single gold medal performance, as well as each medal ceremony that was televised.  I experienced that euphoria that all sports fans feel when their team wins, but for me, it goes so much deeper than that simple desire.  This year, Michael Phelps will be closing out his Olympic career at these Summer Games.  I hope to watch him increase his medal winnings, and I look forward to seeing the upcoming new, young athletes who follow in his footsteps.

During those moments of watching Michael Phelps achieve his mutiple gold medal wins, and so many other Olympic performances, my heart and spirit were transported in a manner that I sometimes experience when I hear an especially beautiful piece of music, or witness a uniquely beautiful moment in nature....feel an especially bright moment of love for another.  It is difficult to put into words, the emotions that I feel during the Olympic Games, but I am positive that the energy that is created during those two brief weeks every two years is very important to the overall energy of our planet Earth.  I feel that it is a healing energy that takes place and I also believe the young people who compete in the Olympic Games are forever changed by their individual experiences.  They then go forth to live their lives, it is to be hoped, and do more wonderful, positive things.

I believe that each country cares about the Olympic Games for more reasons than just winning.  Yes, of course every athlete attending the Olympic Games dreams of winning that gold medal, standing on that podium and hearing their own National Anthem played.  Beyond that ultimate moment, the Olympics themselves present an ideal - a wish and a dream of everything being possible and within the grasp of each athlete.  The Olympic Games hold elation, promise...and possibly most importantly, the Games represent Hope.  In these modern times, I cannot think of any single human emotion that is more important than to feel hopeful. 

So, in these next two weeks, everyone who knows me well will sigh, shake their heads in slight amusement, and agree to not ask me to come to dinner, agree to not call me after 7 pm and then greet me again at the end of the Olympic Games.  They know they will hear me wax rhapsodic about the highlights of the Olympic Games for the next couple of weeks, and they'll kid me about my borderline unreasonable devotion to not missing a single, exciting moment of televised coverage. 

It's okay - they're used to me, and I'm used to them, and I am not offended when they find me amusing.  I know that I'm a bit outside the norm in this regard.  It makes me happy to watch the Olympic Games, plain and simple.  In the coming two weeks, I am confident that I will witness some truly inspirational, amazing moments.  I am equally confident that for two short weeks, this beautiful planet that I love so deeply will also bask in the higher vibration that is generated by the Olympic Games.  For a short period of time, magnificent competition, experiences, emotions and memories will blaze brightly and proudly.  And I will have been there to see it.  My memories will be richer, my heart will be stronger, and my Soul will be gladdened. 

Perhaps, for those of us not so athletically gifted, the Olympic Games are also a moment to simply appreciate what those who are truly athletically gifted can accomplish.  At the end of the day, the Games are an exercise in pursuing excellence, pursuing dreams and being up at the top of a mountain, poised to jump out bravely into the unknown and grab victory in both hands.  When you think about it, that's a noble undertaking for two otherwise ordinary weeks out of the year. 

25 comments:

  1. Remember Kerri Strugg completing the vault jump on one good ankle? Still get goose bumps.Would that our every day experiences allow us to throw our arms in the air and with an absolute primal scream yell 'It was worth it!'
    Beth

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  2. Beth, I do remember that moment! It's nice to meet someone who experiences the same chills that I do in relation to the whole concept the the Olympics presents. Thank you for visiting and leaving such a happy, positive comment!

    ~ Dawn

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  3. Dawn, you have brought your excitement for the Winter Olympics to my table! Beautifully written and loved the loved reading the Olympic Creed. Liz and Phil enjoy watching the Olympics. Think I'll forward this to Phil. You did it again girlie.

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  4. Thank you Janie! I am SO excited for the Olympics and I'm happy that I was able to convey what they mean to me. I felt some frustration that the words weren't coming out as I really wanted them to, but then I reminded myself to just let it flow. Genuine emotion will always carry the day, so thank you, as always, for giving me encouragement and affirmations!

    ~ Dawn

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  5. During the Olympic games, I feel like I'm on holiday.Together with World soccer championship is the main event in my life.I know from WO games from Salt Lake City, that I stayed all night just to watch hockey games.That's why my friends call me "sport freak".
    Dawn, in one thing I must dissagree with you.The olympic spirit is slowly dying.I know about many cases of sportsmen taking drugs to make better score, like Marion Jones.There are some exemptions, like contester on skiing who comed from Ghana.I think he's a true meaning of olympic spirit.

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  6. Daniel, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I agree w/ you that there will always be those who deliberately flout the rules and spirit of the Olympics in order to win at all costs. What I choose to focus on, however, are the beautiful moments and the athletes that are there to compete in a fair and sincere manner. I know I'm idealistic, but I still believe that the majority of athletes competing in the Olympics are there to uphold and abide by the Olympic Creed. This is why my proverbial rose colored glasses never truly leave my face - I'll happily view the world through optimistic lenses.

    ~ Dawn

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  7. the Olympics Creed is something new to me, Dawn, thanks for sharing. I can relate the creed to how we should live our life, that would be ideal.

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  8. Everything in life good & bad can be assimilated to sports, we've all seen great triumphs & heard all the terrible stories but with the Olympics the spirit of goodwill to others from the volunteers to the athletes to the people attending. The Olympics brings out the best in each & everyone of us & shows what can be accomplished if we all come together with an undying spirit of love & cooperation.

    Hugs,

    Bill

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  9. The Olympics has that special quality to bring us together as a Nation. Anymore I feel like we are a Nation divided...between politics, the wars we are fighting, religious ideals...somehow the Olympics transcends all of this.

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  10. Surein, Pierre de Coubertin got the idea for the Olympic Creed phrase from a speech given by Bishop Ethelbert Talbot at a service for Olympic champions during the 1908 Olympic Games. Here's a good article w/ more Olypmic info that you might find interesting to read:

    http://history1900s.about.com/od/greateventsofthecentury/a/olympicfacts.htm

    Bill & S.k., I agree with you both about the unifying energy of the Olympic Games. It is a glimpse, that moment out of time, that proves it IS possible for all nations to come together in peace and camaraderie. I'm looking forward to the next two weeks!

    Thank you, all three, for stopping by for a visit. :)

    ~ Dawn

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  11. Actually, until you mentioned it, I had no idea it was starting...lol.

    Like the Superbowl, I usually almost miss it each year. I haven't watched one since college when my roommate was obsessed with figure skaters.

    I respect how much work, time, and commitment it takes to be your best. To know you can do what ever you want if you work hard enough.

    But you sacrifice a lot for it.

    Tirz

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  12. Tirzah, this is one of the few sports related events that I always know about and prepare for. (Well, including college football - can't really escape that, as I live in Knoxville, TN, home of the TN Volunteers.) I'm already getting emails & phone calls from friends who always think that this will be the year they lure me away from watching the Olympic coverage - they will fail, as always!!! ;-) Thanks for stopping by for a visit and for leaving a comment.

    ~ Dawn

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  13. Your post reflects the true spirit of Olympic Games and what they mean to any of us. Coming from the country with 5 months long winters I truly believe there is nothing better than winter Olympics. I am really looking forward to them.

    The Colors Magazine

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  14. So if the world's mindset was the same as their mindset during the Olympics, could there be peace & unity? Funny how during the Olympics such things can be possible, but they quickly fade away once the games are over. Honestly, I've never been big on watching the Olympics. I did get a little into it during the last one in Beijing. I wasn't aware of the purpose & meaning behind it all....I guess you could say you've given me an appreciation for the Olympics. :)

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  15. Lena, one of the things I enjoy and appreciate so much about blogging is how it draws people together from such far flung places and allows friendships to form. With you in Russia, watching the Winter Olympics this year will take on new meaning for me - you will come to mind when I watch a Russian athlete winning a medal and I will smile, knowing you're feeling that same sense of patriotism for your country. I love that! Thank you for stopping by, taking time to read and leave a comment!

    Anahid, I know many people aren't that interested in the Olympics. Many of my friends are in that percentile and they're the one who find my own enthusiasm amusing. Your final sentence gave me a big smile - "..I guess you could say you've given me an appreciation for the Olympics." How cool is that?! I think that's one of the common purposes of choosing to write your own thoughts down for others to read - there is always the underlying thought that you are sharing your own perspective w/ the hopes someone else will have an "aha moment". I have those quite often when I read your posts too!
    Thank you for visiting today.

    ~ Dawn

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  16. Dawn, it is even more such a noble undertaking with the loss of an athlete. May the nobility of risking all to be the best you can be and the oh so untimely death of one so young comfort and remind us that life is fragile, excellence has exacts a cost but the greater loss is not to try.

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  17. Beth, I agree. I often remark that we walk around in glass bodies, in essence, as life is such a fragile, tenuous existence from a physical standpoint. I thought the tribute paid to this young man at the opening ceremonies last night was beautiful. In that moment of silence and the several comments made in speeches, the whole world focused light and prayers on him and his family - those were moments of pure positive energy that will continue to have positive effect long into the future.

    Again, I agree w/ your comment that "excellence exacts a cost, but he greater loss is not to try." He died doing something he loved, and while the loss is very tragic, I believe he was living as close to perfection of reaching for his dreams as it is possible for any human being to achieve. Blessings to him and those who love him.

    Beth, thanks for your beautiful words.

    ~ Dawn

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  18. Dawn, I love what you wrote here about the Olympic games. They are all about hope! For this world and for humanity. Though I'm not quite the devoted fan you are, I do enjoy watching events when I can. I especially like gymnastics since it is one event I could never imagine even trying! I would, literally, fall flat on my face. :)
    Have a great two weeks immersed in the greatest games on earth!
    Blessings always!

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    1. Martha, yes, hope is the emotion here. I love watching gymnastics as well! And goodness, I couldn't attempt any of the sports these amazing kids engage in. I definitely will enjoy the upcoming two weeks! Blessings to you in return, sweetheart. <3

      - Dawn

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  19. Dawn, I also love watching the Olympics for many of the same reasons you do. I am athletic though having played basketball, volleyball and soccer in high school as well as being on the track team for a short period. As you know I am a basketball fiend (I'm always talking about my Celtics) and I do love sports in general as they bring out the best in us physically and mentally at times. Sports also help young people develop leadership skills and build their self-esteem. Many times when our world is in flux watching a sporting event can help us feel unified. I knew you were my soul sister for a reason. Enjoy the games! :-)

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    1. Tameka, that's another facet of the Olympics that's so important - that it unifies the world. Huge point, sister! Unified for two weeks in a peaceful atmosphere, pursuing excellence and growing together. For most of us, it's a vicarious experience, but I am convinced it lifts the vibration of the whole planet as a result of all the beautiful energy & emotion we all feel as we watch. I'll enjoy the Games even more, knowing you're right there with me! :)

      Much love,
      Dawn

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  20. My favorite stories are the ones that reveal the athletes as embracing the Olympic spirit of excellence of character as well as of body. What a wonderful opportunity for people of the world to come together in the spirit of unity.

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    1. Galen, I love that as well. Over ten years ago, there was the moment when one of the Track & Field events showed a young man from Great Britain pulling his hamstring in one leg, but insisting on limping to the finish line. His father came out onto the track & helped him finish the race. I saw that young man being interviewed the other night. Ten years later, he's a motivational speaker & says that he still receives letters and email about how he comported himself that day. People remember how he behaved in that moment, NOT that he didn't win a medal. I love that! :)

      - Dawn

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  21. Loved this post! I've always found the Olympics inspiring...It brings the world together and shows what hard work and determination can produce.

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    1. Jessica, I'm glad you enjoyed this one! I'm getting excited - only a handful of days before Opening Ceremonies begin!! And yes, it does bring the world together. Thank you for visiting, honey. :)

      - Dawn

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