International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach kicked off the games with an important message: “In this Olympic world, we see that the values of our SHARED HUMANITY are STRONGER than the forces which want to divide us.” His remarks focused on UNITY and how the games provide the setting for an attitude of peace and hope.
In 2010, I had the opportunity to attend the winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, with my boys and my sister. (If the games are ever that close again, I recommend you stop what you are doing and make a plan to attend if at all possible.) What we witnessed firsthand was that every country we encountered were more than kind, generous and willing to thrive together during the games. I remember most the Netherlands and their enthusiasm toward their national sport, speed skating, and their jovial hugs as their team went ahead in the race. It was fantastic.
While I promise I won’t write about the Olympics every time over the next three weeks, I may use the opportunity as the games play out to share a story or insights that may be relevant to the blog. I definitely don’t want to miss this chance to SHOWCASE UNITY AT ITS BEST! Here are some thoughts I had as I worked through this blog…
- Unity happens when everyone lays aside their personal interests and races toward a common goal. Unity can get disrupted at home, in the workplace and of course we have seen the terror when unity is threatened during war. But what if we all truly did see the world from someone else’s viewpoint. You know, the “don’t judge until you have walked in someone else’s mocassins…” (Or something like that) That’s pretty darn good advise. Lay your personal interests aside and remember we are here to use our best gifts. Don’t get tied up in someone else’s drama. The athletes don’t lay aside their goal to win the race, but no doubt during the month they live among those with cultural differences, they surely experience a host of differences and lay those aside to achieve peace
- Unity is possible. There are those that believe unity isn’t possible. “I can’t get a long with this guy at work, I cannot stand that lady, their religion really bothers me… etc.” I was devastated when I saw the news this week of the young Muslim couple being asked to leave a Delta airline flight home from Europe. We must all INVEST OURSELVES FULLY in the FACT THAT UNITY IS POSSIBLE. Watch the games over the next few weeks. These athletes are living in the Olympic village together and they are in full community together and they LOVE IT. The fun of the Friday ceremonies with all countries taking selfies together etc. was magical. Watch specifically for those moments. You’ll see what I mean!
- UNITY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY. I hear so many people right now due to the national election talking about how our country is in disarray and the concerns with ISIS and the refugee crisis and… You get the picture. Everyone is looking to a leader to solve our issues to somehow step in and create a world where we suddenly are all singing “kum ba ya” together in harmony. The reality is, every athlete, every volunteer, every leader of the games and every one of us is responsible. We have to realize that we can’t sit aside. We must use our voice and our time and actions to strive for unity in all things. I will spend some time again this month on some opportunities here locally to step in and use your voice.
Have a better than great day!