20160816.005 LEARNING FROM THE OLYMPICS

    I have been watching the summer Olympics this year. Now, where as that shouldn’t be strange, for me it is!  There are only a few sports that I am interested in. I am interested in swimming, diving, and gymnastics. But I have also found a new interest in track and field, dressage, and cycling. And I have found some lessons to learn and re-learn from all of these events as well as others that I have watched.

    1) WINNING ISN’T EVERYTHING

    Although it is great to win a gold in the Rio Olympics, there are several who don’t.  Still they compete. They work hard, they strive for the best, and they finish the race.  They don’t always win, but they try!  So, winning isn’t everything, but trying is!  Unless I try, I have failed, which up to today, I have failed in several areas of my life. But, it isn’t because I did something.  It is because I gave up before doing anything. Therefore, I need to remember to try!  No matter what, try!  And if I don’t succeed, at least I tried and I can always try harder.

    2) I AM NOT AN OLYMPIAN

    I admit, I live vicariously through the US Olympians. I enjoy watching their competitions and I enjoy when they win. I wish secretly that I could be up there doing what they do and trying and winning like they try and win. But I am NOT an Olympian! At least not in those particular sports. I play the “what if?” game and continually ask myself, “what if I had done this or that or some other thing?” And it comes back to me that I never would have because I am me and I have had different lessons to learn in life.  But, and here is where the rubber meets the road, I have done things in my life that the Olympians may never get to do.  I will do things that may amaze them and wow them.  And for this, I need to look back at and look forward to these opportunities and challenges in my own life! I may not be an Olympian, but I AM ME!

    3) THERE IS NO “I” IN “TEAM”

    Even though many of the athletes are competing by themselves, they still are competing as a specific country or organization and with the company of so many others who have helped them in their past and in the present. And although I can look back at problems in my life where I felt alone and lost, I need to look harder to see those who have picked me up and carried me into the hope of living.  For them I am truly thankful that they have not given up on my hopeless situations – those very situations where I did give up. There is no “I” in the word “TEAM.” And there is no singular person in the ebb and flow of life.  We all are interconnected and interrelated. And I have many people who have, who do, and who continue to help me in my recovery and in my living!  And for them I am truly thankful!

    I am sure there are other things that I have learned and that I will continue to learn and re-learn as I watch the Rio Games. So this is not an exhaustive list! Rather it is just a start. The important point above all is to open my eyes and my heart and be willing to learn from all situations. Because unless I learn, I will simply slide back further into my depression. As with all of my BLOG posts, I encourage and look forward to any comments that you, the readers, have for me – both what lessons I have not listed and what lessons you have learned in watching the Olympics and in life in general. And, as always, blessings in all ways! - David L.