I cheered and marveled at all the events. I am inspired and energized by all the athletes from every country. I don’t care if they won a medal or not. That’s not what the Olympic Games are about.
Medals don’t matter. Passion matters.
A deep passion was born within each and every one of them. It started out as curiosity and a deep natural feeling of joy that drove them to take those tiny toddler steps. Small beginnings like jumping into cool water to diving off a 20 foot board. From biking around the block to racing around Surrey, England. From doing somersaults in their living rooms to flying around uneven parallel bars in front of millions of people.
Inside each and every one of these athletes is a deep knowing, a deep sense that this one thing, is the right thing for them, above all else, here and now. It didn’t start out as a gold medal dream. In fact, they (or their parents) had to pay to do it. It didn’t start out as a career. It started out as fun, joy, a big ‘yes’ in a world of ‘no’. Are they special, different from you and me?
Yes. And no. They have it. But so do you and I. We all have that deep knowing and passion. We are all born with it.
It’s true. I know it and so do you.
But. Oh, yes, there’s always the but…
How did they know to go with it? They listened. Then, they stuck their foot in the water of life and jumped in.
And it grew as they grew.
From their first tiny splashes, it grew to include parents and teachers and coaches. Sometimes, they soared and sometimes they fell. Sometimes they got tired and disappointed and distracted. So they rested, found their way back to their path and kept going. Why? Because deep down inside, the passion was there, waiting for them to use it.
Mine is there. Yours is, too.
It’s not about winning or losing. It’s about using the passion and joy that you were born with. It’s simple. You can start anytime, any day. All you have to do is take one tiny step, then another and another. Here and now. Come on in, the water’s fine.
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