07/08/2024
We've been watching the Olympics - seeing the gold medal strides, the heartbreak of coming up just short, the success stories, the losses, the long roads, the easy wins... Most of the athletes who see victory give a fairly common interview about who to thank, the hard work it took to get there, and the success their grateful for.
But last night, after Gabby Thomas won the 200m, she shared something that I haven't been able to stop thinking about. In talking about winning the gold medal, she talked about all of the hours behind the scenes that not many people get to see. It got me thinking - in life, we often see and remember the amazing moments that happen, the big events, but we forget all of the work that went into getting there. I'm talking about all of the hours of preparation, failure, and sweat that doesn't get seen. I'm talking about the decisions that, in a moment, seem to be impossible to make and we know they can shape the trajectory of where we are headed. I'm talking about stepping out of our comfort zones - doing the unthinkable when others say it's impossible.
I'm talking about the faith it takes to step out into our futures. Gold medal success, or any success for that matter, isn't just the one big moment - it's all of that other stuff too. We don't always know what Point A to Point B will look like. It may be easy to want to give up because we feel like we're moving ant hills instead of mountains, or because others don't support the vision, or because we're feeling frustrated or defeated. Keep pushing and putting in the hours in the places that really matter. Those hours add up, even if no one gets to see them.
And it's what you do in those times that will get you to that podium. Even if you don't win the gold medal, be proud of your successes and knowing what you did to get you where you are.