Olympics

Tonight, like many people around the globe, I too witnessed history. To repeat what ever news agency in the world is now reporting, he did win the 8 gold medals he set out to win, beating not only the odds, but any other Olympian ever. The Olympics are interesting. Some people asked me if they make me feel lazy, or that I've "passed my prime" -- I don't think so. Lazy, perhaps slightly. If anything, I have a new found interest in a couple of sports (rowing and cycling) and plan to invest some time investigating those now.

I guess to be cheesy about it all, it just shows you what dedication and striving can do for a person. How you can change the world in some way, by giving all of yourself to a particular thing, be it sports, or something else. These people are such great representatives of not only each country, but of people in general. People who are working in teams, and as single athletes, showing that the mind has so much power. I find it so invigorating to watch these games -- any sport -- and I really get such a huge sense of pride swelling inside me. For the first time in awhile, being an American seems to be pretty damn good -- I feel patriotic and I want my fellow countrymen and women to succeed. Its strange how you can look at one part of this place we live and absolutely despise it -- and then watch these Olympic games and just fall head over heals for our beautiful country. I guess what I'm trying to express is that the Olympics brings out the best in me for some reason -- it makes me competitive and long to feel the energy from a crowd, cheering me on. I watched tonight as a 38 year old woman from Romania came in first in the marathon -- so much ahead of the rest of the runners. I felt so much joy for her! The feeling of being the first to enter that amazing stadium -- the crowd cheering like thunder -- and the intense emotion filling her up, knowing that she just completed the most important event in her life, and that that event will encourage and influence others in her home country. Its amazing to watch these people do things that you just don't think should be possible -- and yet, you know they are possible.

I am proud of my American background. I might not always profess it, or agree with everything that is happening, but because of some amazing athletes, my sense of happiness and joy about my country has returned.