My family and I are Olympic Super Fans. We carve out the two weeks to cry, cheer, debate, and be inspired. As a mom, I carry our fan-dom a bit farther, to me the Olympics light a torch of metaphors for everyone. In no other sporting event can you have a million stories of light, love, and learning. This year is no different. I could write pages of my thoughts. However, I am focusing one athlete, Steve Nedorosick, "The Pommel Horse Guy."
If you haven't seen him yet, click here and enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDyNRo0ht5Y
What are the metaphors I find?
He's nearly blind without his glasses, which he removes before he competes. He competes by feel, not by sight, in the non-paralympic Olympics.
He only competes on one apparatus or event. In gymnastics most athletes train on all the apparatus, eventually narrowing down their skills to their highest options. Meaning most gymnasts, men and women, do three or four routines on different apparatuses throughout the competition.
He only began training on pommel horse, seven years ago. Most Olympic athletes have been training in their sport most of their lives. He picked his up as a college student. Far behind his team mates.
Pommel horse is not his first love. He is a math guy, focused on engineering. That is what took him to college, and opened the door to pommel horse. For the majority of athletes, the meld of sport you love and your career choice is flipped around.
Last of all, for his frivolous time off, he works Rubic's cube against a clock. Pretty cool if you ask me.
How does this apply to us the Olympic spectator?
Do we believe we are limited by some un-ability based on the lives and people around us?
Do we believe we need an arsenal of skills or experiences to be in this game called life?
Have we convinced ourselves it's too late to try something new or participate in something we wondered about?
Do we have multiple interests, pursuits, and skills we are focused on? Are they things we love to do? Not pursuits based on anyone else.
What do we do for frivolous fun? (There's no judgment here. I am just asking if you love it? Is it great energy, even if it's watching clouds float by.)
I will let you score yourself. There are no losers in this reflection. I do know, for me, I am taking the lessons of the nerdy math kid to heart. I still have lots of life in me, and I deserve to enjoy mine as much as he does. I don't have to be big, famous, or flashy. But I dare myself to immerse in it and enjoy life as much as he does.
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