It’s been almost a week since we watched the Olympic flame die out in Italy, and the impact of those days is still on my mind. We are an Olympics-obsessed household. Every two years we buckle down, set all our activities aside, and spend every waking moment outside of work (OK, mostly outside of work) making our way through recordings of Olympic activities. We particularly love the winter games and watch every event there is to partake of. We go to bed bleary eyed but inspired, and wake up looking forward to what the day will hold.
It’s hard to describe what these two weeks feel like, and why it has such a hold on us. The inspiration of what it takes to get on the world stage, to have one opportunity to go for your dreams and give everything you’ve got to get there. To hear and see stories of tragedy and triumph and overcoming and elation and disappointment and camaraderie and passion and fight and winning against all odds, or losing with dignity and humility. It’s all of that, but there’s also something about feeling cloistered for 17 days, feeling like in that bubble the world comes together in pursuit of something good. To encourage and support and inspire one another to “go for gold”, whatever that means in your life. To train hard and not give up. To see one another at the same time – competitors and fellow humans worthy of our respect and kindness.
Always, the Olympics remind me that while I’m not an athlete, there’s a place where my skills and experiences and dreams have their own stage. Where I have the freedom and opportunity to take my shot at winning whatever the gold medal means for me. Where I can give the best of myself to the people I serve and work with and to my community. Where I can pursue big ideas and persevere, in spite of obstacles, to bring them to fruition. Opportunity yes, but motivation and determination sometimes lag behind.
When the money’s not coming in and business is slow, when the thing I thought would take me to the next level fails, when I’m tired or frustrated with too many weeds and not enough sky, when distractions pull me away from my goals – it’s easy to get lost in self-pity and scarcity and to give up hope. But at least once every two years, I’m reminded of what’s possible if I’m willing to persevere when it’s hard, when I have setbacks, when things don’t go the way I thought or hoped they would. If I’m willing to take my shot (or many) in this one life I have, with clarity, courage and hope, I can have an impact.
This year, it seemed a little harder than usual to step out of that bubble. This year, the stories and moments are lingering in our hearts and minds. This year, it felt like that “world coming together” meant more than usual. We long to feel that – to be connected, to be our best selves, to be part of a supportive community, to have dreams worth fighting for and opportunities to shine on our own stage, wherever that might be. This year, that longing is holding on to us in a world that feels fragmented, polarized, disjointed, and at odds.
I encourage you to consider where you might need to recommit to taking your shot with all the energy, passion and gusto it requires to reach for your “gold”?
What inspires you to keep going when you miss the mogul, don’t make the qualifier or feel like you’re constantly arriving in fourth place?
What encourages you to contribute to a community that welcomes, supports, cheers on, inspires and builds connection?
I’m building on the momentum of these last Olympics with hope and determination, and holding on with anticipation for another round in 2028!
