The Olympic Creed

On this last day of the London 2012 Olympics, I borrow from my thoughts on a previous post on this blog, written February 21, 2010:

The Olympic Creed
"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." 

As in the Olympics, so in life.

It is awe provoking to watch the Olympic athletes and witness their excellence in physical performance. When you think of all the training and experience that goes into their efforts, it is truly amazing. Their experience usually includes a lot of falling or crashing, getting injured, getting down, getting up, rehabilitating, and re-conditioning, as well as the many heartbreaks of not quite achieving what they wanted, when they wanted, or how they wanted. But the good ones keep going, keep trying, and ultimately achieve glory - whether through a medal or the through the shear victory of accomplishing a goal, finishing and doing their best.

Some famous Olympic athletes have achieved their highest attainment and glory after having overcome a serious setback or injury, or while they are still in the mode of returning to their best form. Others achieve the top honors after a long period of having expended the greatest training efforts of their lives.

The Olympic athletes are in the pursuit of the great Olympian ideals: Citius, Altius and Fortius, which translated from Latin mean Swifter, Higher and Stronger.

We are not all, nor can we all, be Olympic level athletes. But we all can take inspiration from these Olympic ideals and the heroes that have applied them so well in their lives. We can be heroes in our own right by overcoming our trials and achieving the swiftest, the highest and the strongest within us.