MIDWEEK MESSAGE

Much of the world has been watching the Olympics from Paris.  I am always in awe of the dedication and perseverance of the athletes. The ones we see during the Olympics are a small fraction of those who train to be in the games.

I admire their courage in competing, knowing only a few will return with medals. Yet anyone who makes it on an Olympic team is a winner.  It takes discipline and commitment, which few average people have.

The athlete who made the biggest impression on me was not the gold medal winner in the 100-meter race. Sha’Carri Richardson was a sure bet thing for taking the gold in the women’s 100-meter race, having already broken all world records. To the world’s surprise, she did not win a gold medal but came in second for a silver medal.

However, amid what must have been a major upset for her, she was a winner because she showed dignity and grace. She didn’t make excuses or place blame on anyone or anything. She accepted what was and seemed grateful for her silver medal. As a result, she showed she was truly a winner. 

That makes her a real champion and an example of how we should all live in this world, in my opinion. Someone once told me to stop playing the victim in my life, filled with self-pity and always trying to find someone or something to blame for the things in life that were not to my liking.

We may have no control over people or things outside ourselves, but we always have a choice in how we react to things. Although we may not have to train for any team, we have a life that requires much training, and that requires us to practice living a life of dignity, integrity, and humility.  It is one of the greatest challenges that we all face in the training we call life. 

Quote of the Week 

“Experience is not what happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you.”

Aldous Huxley