The Olympic Dream
As the world's eyes turn towards London for the Olympics, the memories flow freely. I was just a little bit older than Alexis is now during the 1984 Olympics, so I remember. I remember what it's like to look on in awe as the impossible turns into the possible right before your eyes.
I haven't quite caught Olympic fever this year, in no small part because NBC is doing everything under the sun to ruin the experience. I don't honestly mind the delays in airing events as much as I mind the conflict between television delays and how they are handling social media. It hurts my head to see tweets from NBC announcing winners and then hours later we hear TV announcers who do what they can to make it seem like the event is being shown live. And don't get me started on how bad the announcers themselves have been...
Alexis, however, is oblivious to it all. She doesn't understand live versus pre-recorded, so to her the events are full of suspense and nerves. She gasps as a gymnast falls. She cheers as cyclist kicks into overdrive. She celebrates as Team USA wins a medal. It's all wonderful and amazing and magical in her eyes.
And it's all very do-able.
While adults all around the world say things like, "I could have done that," kids say, "I could do that." The difference is that the kids are right. Maybe they don't have the natural skill to perform at an Olympic level, but what's to stop Alexis from learning to do a flip on the balance beam?
Nothing.
The dreams are real and the goals are achievable, if only practice and luck come together in harmony.
And that's exactly why I've watched and cheered as the kid has been "practicing" pommel horse for most of the night.
Shhhhhhhh!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Reader Comments (7)
It's funny you questioned what is to keep Alexis from learning to do a flip on the balance beam. I mentioned that very thing (that feat, not Alexis doing it) in a blog post I just wrote. That totally amazes completely uncoordinated me.
Good perspective. To be a kid again...
@facie--Last night Alexis told me she'll be able to do a flip on the balance beam when she's eight. She said it with such certainty that I'm not sure that I have any doubt that she will be able to!
I totally agree about NBC. Making me really mad.
Last night - 90 seconds before Missy Franklin won her first individual gold medal "live on tape" - NBC ran a commercial for this morning's Today show saying, "Right after Franklin won her first individual gold medal..." Morons. And Bob Costas makes me want to borrow your spork to use on my ears!!
My 5-year-old - who has never had a day of gymnastics in her LIFE - has been watching v-e-r-y c-l-o-s-e-l-y every move they make and then mimicking them around the living room. Lord help her if she has my coordination, but maybe...
if alexis decides to do something, i have complete and total faith that she will accomplish it. the army of love behind her will help in any way possible to give her every opportunity to succeed, too.
i remember nadia (i was 5) and mary lou (i was 13) inspiring me to tumble and flip, but i also remember very clearly that i just wanted to tumble and flip, not compete in the olympics. incredible the difference in personalities us humans have, eh?
In 2008 during the Olympics we were driving somewhere with our nieces and I remember the conversation that took place in the back seat. The 4 year old was asking the 14 year old alllll kinds of questions about the Olympics. When she had asked all of her questions, she announced "When I am big I am going to the Olympics for swimming!" I have no doubt that if she put her mind to it, she could.
I tweeted the other night that Summer the Olympics always make me want to get my kids into gymnastics or swimming! ha!
Go Alexis Go!!