"When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy."
Rumi
The
montage of Olympic images still plays in my mind: a pile of snowy
bodies in a heap of hugs on the frigid ground, the sound of whoops and
hollers, the gleam of mouth-guarded grins of pure delight, the shouts of
encouragement. I gripped the edge of my seat as I watched the Olympic
snowboarding finalists.
Each
athlete took her turn sliding over the rail and soaring through the
course to the finish line. Some had crashed and completed their run on
their bottoms, some on their bellies. But unfailingly, each stood
shouting with delight, fist pumping and smiling from ear to ear. Their
jubilation was contagious.
My
own heart was pounding as I commented to my husband on their
celebratory joy. We talked about how impressive it was to watch each
woman rejoice as she completed her attempt to garner a medal in Sochi.
They were not judging themselves or letting expectations of perfection
rule their behavior. It appeared to me they were accepting that they had
done their best and circumstances, sometimes beyond their control, had
altered their desired outcome. The winning medalist was exuberantly
embraced as the athletes celebrated each others' success as though it
had been their own.
How
do you manage with unexpected outcomes? How do you deal with surprises
that alter your plans? Learning how to gracefully accept the ups and
downs of life is a true accomplishment. What if an avenue to "flow and
grace" was to put your heart and soul into everything you do while
accepting that the desired results are never guaranteed? What if you
allowed yourself to simply be proud that you have put forth your best
effort? What if living in the present means rejoicing in others
successes as well as your own?
The
Olympic snowboarders gave it their all and they celebrated. They were
living in the the moment and they were doing it from their soul.
Appreciate
the effort you make each day to do and be your best. If you hit a patch
of ice dust yourself off and start over. Think about finding the
courage to celebrate with those who have already achieved your perceived
goal. They are not beating you, they are just leading the way.
