The 2018 winter Olympics are in full swing and chances are good that you’ll watch at least some of the competitions during the 14 days before the closing ceremony.
I’m always awestruck by the artistry and athleticism of the Olympians. Here are a few thoughts on how their performances may or may not mirror our own lives.
• Their talents and skills did not come to them “naturally.” These honed athletes didn’t wake up one morning able to do these things. Neither will you. In most cases, their successes come from a lifetime devoted to training and repetition, years worth of endless drills. Anything worth achieving needs work and dedication.
• Not everyone can be the star, performing athlete. Behind every Olympian are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of teachers, family, coaches, Zamboni drivers, tutors, and so many others whose hard work set the stage for the Olympians. Not one of us achieves success alone.
• A few strategically placed sequins – or lots of them – can only make things better. Hair and makeup helps, too.
• Even the very best athletes in the world will falter. When they stumble or fall, they keep right on going without skipping a beat. There’s no time to pout or throw a hissy fit, nor is there time to mentally berate themselves for a flaw. We mere mortals do this all too quickly, telling ourselves that we’re stupid, or clumsy, or will never be able to get there. Those limitations are imposed by ourselves, not by others. So skip that step. Just pick yourself up and keep going. Others are much more likely to remember your grace in carrying on than they are to recall your stumble.
• Confidence is everything. I don’t mean false bravado, or acting cocky. Confidence comes from practicing something so much that your muscles remember every motion even when your brain can’t. Confidence is knowing you can do it, knowing you will do it.
• Remember to be humble. Humility is not the opposite of confidence; it’s possible to have both. Humility is remembering that your current successes are temporary in the overall scheme of things; each one of us is pretty insignificant when you consider all of mankind over all of history.
• Each of us has at least one skill that we can do as superbly and effortlessly as the most polished skater or gymnast. It could be deftly diapering a wriggling child, getting through the grocery store with your entire list in your cart, or deftly kicking off your shoes and shedding clothes when you get home from work.
• Every once in awhile, you may do something so well that the world seems to clap along with you. Savor that moment, for it is indeed rare.
• Sometimes we get so wrapped up in whether we’re good enough – our clothes, our hair, our work product – and we think the whole world will find our faults. The reality is that the whole world really doesn’t care. Just boldly go forward and do your thing.
• Unlike the Olympics, there’s no one narrating (and critiquing) our every move. Neither is there someone introducing us with a brief bio before we do something momentous. Most of the time, we introduce ourselves. We critique ourselves, too, but remember to be gentle in criticism, and to quickly move on. Better to learn from mistakes than to stay and swim in them.
• Whatever you do, do it with gusto and panache. Live like the judges are watching and you’re guaranteed to get at least an “8.”
• Dare to take chances, to push the limits. Each Olympics, athletes are doing things that were impossible at the previous games. Olympians don’t settle for status quo, they’re always pushing themselves to go faster, higher, better. We can all do that, too, even in our everyday lives.
• No matter what, smile. A confident smile and a little flourish can make up for little blips along the way. A smile never hurts, and it’s free.
• Always, always be kind and gracious. No one likes a sore loser, or a sore winner. And don’t forget to be grateful.