The Vision that Wins Gold
by Walt Carvalho
Some of us wonder how it is possible, that fear doesn’t overcome an Olympic downhill racer. The skiers attack the course, willing to confront their fears, which would cause many people to quit before even trying. After accomplishing their lifelong goal, the racer stands upon the medals podium receiving their gold medal reward. It is more than just a symbol of their standing in their field and the time it took to finish the course, it is also a symbol of their ability to overcome the obstacles that prevent others from succeeding in their quest of excellence.
We watch, as the young Olympic skater is profiled in a special filmed segment, showing her average day. We see that she wakes up at 3:15am., to begin her training at the rink at 4:20am. Her practice session lasts till it’s time to go to school. She is back to the rink to train, once again, from 4:30pm. till 6:00pm. She gets home to have dinner, and then complete her studies. She then finally gets to relax with her family, momentarily, before falling asleep for the night.
We watch in wonder, as we lounge on our sofa. Her flawless routine takes four minutes, in an arena that most would consider a pressure zone. We feel the fear and anxiety mounting as we realize she needs perfection to win her gold. We watch quietly, as we think of the many reasons we are here and she is there.
People can be masters of justification.
Later we watch as she receives her medal. Her years of sacrifice and training, has brought her to this point, along her path of personal growth. She can see her family and friends mixed amongst all of the faces, there to see the champions.
These stories also play out in speed skating, ski jumping, ice hockey, bobsled and all of the sports that make up the winter Olympics. These athletes are symbols of human desire and conquest. They battle throughout the years, facing opponents like fear, anxiety, laziness, procrastination and failure justification. Their minds craved the security of the status quo, yet their spirit and desire pushed on.
We are given a momentary glimpse into their world, as their eyes water, in their joy of accomplishment. Hand over heart, they realize their quest and acknowledge the summit upon which they stand. The anthem plays and we all realize the worth of their battle. We share with them at that moment, the vision from the podium, which they envisioned many years before.
As we venture in our own personal lives, with our own dreams and desires in hand, we must find a way to conquer our own crippling dream stealers; fear, anxiety, laziness, procrastination and failure justification. They are simply roadblocks to be overcome in the pursuit of attaining our goals. Their ability to sabotage the less determined has knocked many off the road to success.
Be strong. Believe. Go for the gold!
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phot: flickr.com/photos/jeremy42
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