Olympians

Athletes soar in the air, float in space, perform other seemingly miraculous feats, and we gaze in wonder at their accomplishments. We cry with the winners and losers and mourn over young loss. Their greatness, their sacrifice, their moments in this time in these Olympics moves us.

The inspiration of the elite champions captures our collective heart and awakens lost dreams. We believe that we too can overcome, rise above, and conquer. With fresh eyes, we gaze in mirrors and reflect on our images and days. With bold hearts, we embrace life and take faltering steps toward almost forgotten goals.

As we move forward, only then do we see winners in ourselves and others. We feed the poor so they can rise above poverty. We help the sick so they can recapture life. We touch hands so no one is alone. We love without looking back or looking ahead. We live without regret. We lift each other to soar above obstacles and flow through time with only dreams as safety nets. We move in unison as ice dancers in beautiful harmony. We breathe the same air and nurture the same hopes for peace.

We see strength in the mother who rises at a similar hour to the athlete practicing on an isolated practice field so she can find private time before feeding and dressing her children. We see greatness in the father who works all weekend so he can leave the office early and attend his son’s baseball game. We see victory in the addict who overcame unknown pain and suffering and sits next to us at the coffee shop. We see tenacity in the older woman working still to put food on her family’s table –the family who moved in with her when they lost their jobs.

As we go through another 16 Olympic days, we will rise to our feet with wonder, cry when flags are raised and laugh when youthful and heroic exuberance excels. As we go through life, we will feel the Olympic passion burning bright and fueling everyday winners who give their best, sacrifice in secret, work hard, live freely, and love deeply. As we share our unique talents, pursue dreams and help others find theirs; we will find our greatness and capture a lifetime of gold.

While our bodies may not soar as high as ski jumpers, our spirits do. Our strength is found in the shoulders that others lean on and our achievements are measured in the pieces of our hearts which have been given away.

We are all Olympians.

Butterfly Net

Sometimes I wonder about unfulfilled dreams floating in the air as elusive as butterflies never caught in a net. I look back at life on scarred feet, running through soft green carpets and amidst sharp rocks, chasing an unseen future.

I want to live in the space between the past and the future. It is a present space defined in joy. It’s a place where anticipation belongs in an undefined dimension and regret belongs in another reality. It is a place where feelings soft as an old broken-in goose down comforter cocoons me in warmth. I would live in this space listening in silence to the tick of the clock reminding me that time does exist and I live within its boundaries.

I wouldn’t want to travel anywhere, but instead visit the places in my heart. It is there I clearly see the dreams as bright as endangered orange monarchs, dotted with irregular black spots, which somehow flew magically into my net. It is there I see the colors of my life flying on cobalt blue wings captured in a lifetime of dreams that I no longer have to chase. In this space, I would no longer search for unfilled destinies. In this moment, I would share and enjoy the beauty lying in my net.