Beyond the Cliche. (A deeper look at the Olympic games)

When I was 7, my family crowded around our TV in our family room on a hot summer day. The year was 1988. The city that had our attention was Seoul, Korea. The event up next was Women's Track and Field.  We tried not to disrupt the picture on the screen by knocking off the rabbit ears with our jumping around with excitement.  We just knew that the next race we’d see would make history. And it did. Florence Griffith Joyner ran the 100 meter sprint in just over 10 seconds not only giving her gold, but an Olympic record that stands firm today. That will be a moment I will never forget.

Beijing, 2008. The world held its collective breath in the men's 100 meter butterfly-thinking that Michael Phelps just might take the silver medal next to Serbia's Milorad Cavic. But, in true Olympic nail-biting splendor, Phelps captured the win with only one-one hundredths of a second to spare. This would award him his 7^th gold medal and the title of the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time. That is a moment I will never forget.

Sarajevo,1984. Scott Hamilton quickly became a household name with not only his graceful performances in men's figure skating, but with his signature move he would do on the ice…the back flip.

Atlanta,1996. Kerri Strug made it to the finals and would have to perform a flawless vault routine to send Team USA to the top of the podium.  The 4 foot 8 powerhouse did so by sticking her landing...on one foot. Women's gymnastics had never seen such a thing and it was a moment that I certainly will never forget.

But, not all Olympic moments end in triumph. The Olympic games are heavily laced with tripping, crashes, false starts, dropping the baton, tumbling down a snowy mountain and pulled hamstrings.  True, these moments are heartbreaking. Devastating. But, what amazes me is what happens next. These demi-god like athletes who have succumbed to mortal mistake and weakness, regardless, always do one thing. 

They get up! It seems as though, the inner resolve to keep trying and to finish what they started becomes stronger, and I dare say, more inspirational than doing it first. Doing it the fastest. Reaching the highest. 

Barcelona, 1992. Men's 200 meter sprint. Derek Redmond suffered a pulled hamstring in the middle of his race which hurled him to the ground in extreme pain. He got up and began to hobble as best as he could. But, he fell again. His father who had a front row seat in the stands saw his son in his moment of crisis. He immediately vaulted himself over the railing and ran to help his son. Together, they walked across the finish line. Not first by any stretch. But, that is a moment I will never forget.  

Now, you might be saying at this point, "Yeah, yeah, yeah- go for the gold, I get it. Team spirit is all that matters. Or, fight for your dreams and you will always be a winner. Go the distance. Light the fire within." All of the Olympic cliches. You're right. You HAVE heard it all before. Ever since you saw that first lighting of the torch.

But, I ask that we take a deeper look at all of this. To go beyond the cliche. I feel like in life we have opportunities to seek to be unforgettable. No matter what that means. You know what that means in your own story. Do something that nobody has ever done before. Say something that no other human being has ever uttered. Be someone who  has only walked where you walk. Be that unforgettable voice that echoes through the trees with an idea, a thought, a notion that is so 100% you and you alone. Be that unforgettable force for good that makes someone's day brighter in ways you may never know. 

Even if you fall short. You stumble and drop the baton a few times. Even if you win by a hairpin or by a long-shot. If your intentions are to do good and to inspire, your name could be one that someone will never forget. 

Namaste, go in peace.