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Monday, 22 February 2010 10:27 |
Happy Monday! I like to say that because it makes me sad to hear the radio announcer say, "All righty, folks, it's Wednesday at noon....we're halfway there!!"
Every moment is such an opportunity to breathe deep and cherish life. We can't look at our lives as a mere continuation of grade school; waiting for recess, lunch, and the weekend to experience any sense of joy at all is a waste of the life force permeating in our veins, begging to be used.
Watching the Olympics reinforces that belief for me. These people who have spent so much time cherishing their passion which is often based on the most esoteric of activities: skiing and shooting guns, ice dancing, curling, they show us what humans are capable of achieving with focus and drive. It seems to me that the most important thing is to identify the things in life that bring you joy and spending consistent time immersed in the exploration of that activity. Your ambition level is up to you. If you want a hobby, that's one thing; if you want to be an olympic champion....that's another thing and one must submerge their desires in reality when assessing how far they should strive. That's part of getting older, isn't it? Letting go of past dreams but not necessarily feeling a failure or owning a sense of regret. Instead, redefining goals and realizing the choices you've made have led you to your present condition. Understanding that there is an infinite amount of potential in every moment and that every field of study can take a lifetime is important to stay positive and to continue leading with your heart.
I tear up even during olympic events I don't understand just because you're seeing a fellow human at the pinnacle of their work and there is much to be learned from seeing how people deal with crushing loss and improbable victory. It's safe in a way, because we don't need to do the work but get to reap the benefits of these lessons and apply them to our own lives and our own choices. I read today about a Canadian Figure Skater who lost her mother to a heart attack yesterday. Her mom was her number one fan (I can relate!) and devoted her life to her daughter's dream of competing in the olympics. The woman will still skate tomorrow night and you can only imagine the emotion that will be in the building. To be honest, I couldn't care less about Figure Skating, but there's nothing I'd rather watch in the world than that triumphant, bittersweet moment because it transcends sport and reaches into the indomitable human heart and spirit.
Have a great week!
Love,
Aaron |
