Winning
“Whoever
is winning at the moment will always seem to be invincible.”
George
Orwell
Watching
the Olympics reminds me of just how much work is
involved in winning, and what a driving obsession it is for some
people. Seeing the clips of Ryan Lochte flipping a 650 pound tire
as a means of preparing for the Olympics was simply surreal. What
burning desire can drive a man to do such a dangerous and grueling
thing? Whatever it is paid off last night. He made Michael Phelps
look like an amateur swimmer. One wonders, whether that was because
of all the hard work, or because of Lochte's fierce determination to
upset the apple-cart.
The
face of the Chinese gymnastic team's coach was a study in sorrow as
he watched his best male athlete falter. He sat and fingered his
Buddha beads and tried to appear calm, but clearly, he was miserable.
The Chinese have six gold medals already, but they want to win all
the medals. Losing is never acceptable.
It
was Vince Lombardi who said, “Winning isn't everything. It's the
only thing.” The drive for dominance can be traced all the way down
the food chain—even ants fight for it. I am reminded of the silver
backed gorilla and what happens when he's finally met his match—game
over, time to die. What a strange phenomena to be so intrinsic to
living beings.
There
are exceptions, of course. One gymnast from Ireland had overcome
numerous disastrous physical challenges, from leg tumors to torn
ACL's on both knees, to neurological problems that has rendered him
unable to walk. He said that all he wanted to do was contend--'just
one day at the Olympics' was his goal. Still, there was
disappointment on his face when he didn't land his routine.
Watching
the Olympics is a study in human possibility. The brightest and most
beautiful children of the world are there. It is a feast for the eyes
and an inspiration to the heart. In a world where almost no one is
happy with their state of being, you see what joy looks like. When
the world comes together—on the playing field and not the
battlefield—we experience what we're capable of when we dedicate
ourselves and work toward a goal. If we all did that, everyone would
be a winner.
In
the spirit,
Jane
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