(I have to say, the Internet here in Seiser Alm is horrible, some of the worst I've ever experienced in Europe. So, sorry for the lack of pictures, posts and returned emails!)
The first order of business. Congratulations to those just named to the 2014 United States Olympic Team. It goes without saying that being named to the team is a huge honor and privilege. I’m sure that along with the naming of the team comes congratulations beyond expectation – notes from people that you haven’t heard from for fifteen years and places where you may have spent a month or two claiming you as their own hometown Olympian. There is certainly cause for celebration and celebrate you must as being named is an amazing accomplishment. Seeing that you email inbox is most likely full, the purpose of this blog is specifically aimed at those that were close but were not named.....
The first order of business. Congratulations to those just named to the 2014 United States Olympic Team. It goes without saying that being named to the team is a huge honor and privilege. I’m sure that along with the naming of the team comes congratulations beyond expectation – notes from people that you haven’t heard from for fifteen years and places where you may have spent a month or two claiming you as their own hometown Olympian. There is certainly cause for celebration and celebrate you must as being named is an amazing accomplishment. Seeing that you email inbox is most likely full, the purpose of this blog is specifically aimed at those that were close but were not named.....
To those in that boat: take a day or two to be disappointed
but once that 24 or 48 hour period is over do yourself a favor and hold your
head high. The US Ski team women have a rule that if you have a bad race, take
10 minutes or a cool down by yourself and then put a smile on your face. It
doesn’t help anyone, yourself included to mourn for an extended period of time. Some may argue that
it’s easy for me to say since I’m a member of the team but I urge you:
Don’t regret following your dream. Be proud of your effort, your fight and
giving it your all. There is an extreme amount of honor in people who chase
their dreams with reckless abandon.
Yes, sometimes those dreams will materialize into reality and other
times, they may fall a little bit short. However, if you take it too personally
and dwell on what could have been, it will eat you alive.
If you read my last blog you know that it was about
concentrating on the process rather than the outcome of ski racing. The article I cited stated that to get
the outcome, one must focus and concentrate on the process thereby allowing the
outcome to take care of itself. Too much focus and concentration on the outcome
and the outcome alone will only lead to unhappiness and in my humble opinion, a
wasted opportunity.
What does all this mean you might ask? Can she be more
specific? Yes, yes I can. I
understand the obsession with the Olympics and with the quest to become a
member of the exclusive club. There is a saying, “Once an Olympian, always an
Olympian.” But while the Olympics
may overtly be about who can ski uphill with the most efficiency, slide down
the track with the most speed, complete the quadruple axel with precision or the overall
medal count I believe the Olympics are about a whole lot more. At the core of
the Games are the Olympic ideals - “Olympianism” is the technical term. You see, the Olympics are guided by core
principles including excellence, respect and sportsmanship both on and off the "field of play."
The way I see it you have a choice, an opportunity. I hope you decide to take the high
road; that is, espouse these characteristics whether you have the title
Olympian or not; insert these ideals into your everyday life, your existence,
your identity. Use them to guide
your character at the breakfast before coffee, or in the choices you make when
no one is looking. Strive for excellence in your athletic, professional, and
personal life. There is a cliché quote that says, “reach for the moon and you may fall among the stars.” If you strive for excellence in each and every way good things will undoubtedly happen.
The worst thing you can do is to view missing selection as a
failure or as lost time.
Think back to your journey beginning with the moment that
you decided to “go for it,” the excitement of verbalizing your goals and
pouring yourself into the pursuit. Think to the moments of silence or fitness
when you went on that perfect extra blue classic ski day where you felt invincible,
unstoppable. (The analogy I use for good classic skiing is “cutting through
silk”). Recall the towns and
mountains you’ve seen on your travels and the friends that you’ve made along
the way. Heck, think about the awesome pair of German National Team spandex you
traded your suit for or that delicious cappuccino you sipped in the Italian
sunshine! You must be able to find joy in the journey; even if it didn’t end
with the title you sought out to receive.
I hope that this post doesn’t come off as trite or
disingenuous. I sincerely mean everything I have said. I believe that every
athlete, every competitor, whether he or she is a recognized Olympian or not
should be proud of their effort, dedication and passion if they indeed gave it
their all. Everyone has a story to tell and I urge you to think of what you
want yours to be.
No regrets, give & receive hugs as needed and once
you’re at peace with yourself embark on your next adventure! We all have so
much to be thankful for and sometimes, a little reminder to reflect on those
positive aspects in our lives can go a long ways.
