I choose to look at myself as a Renaissance man, without a Renaissance. Hopefully, you don't stay up late at night trying to figure that one out. If you do, you have only yourself to blame.
This thought came about the other day as I began thinking of life, and the need for balance while watching the Olympics. Yes, despite believing I was invulnerable to Olympics hype, my heretofore previously impervious Teflon caved in to the constant onslaught of swimming, archery, beach volleyball, skeet shooting and mostly, team table tennis.
I mean, how intense and riveting is it for anyone to be so single-minded in their focus and their attention to detail that they can train for four years for one moment. One glimpse, one brief attempt at glory, one shot at being the best person in the world at something. Often, these are people we've never heard about, sometimes doing things we didn't even know were Olympic sports. Typically, they're not multi-million dollar pampered athletes doing it for the Nike Swoosh or the Gatorade commercials. Maybe those, or a Wheaties box will come later, but for this briefest of moments under the bright Athens sunlight, we choose not to think such thoughts.
Instead, take a moment to think about the training and the hard work. Think about that every time you try to squeeze off one more push-up or sit-up at the gym or pick up your pace just a smidge at the track during your morning run. It is intense just thinking about it like that, isn't? But, do think about it.
Wouldn't we all be at least a little bit better off if we could mimic this dedication and devotion in our daily lives? Duplicate the single-minded mission. Drive to excel. Focus on giving your all to something. Be willing to sacrifice.
Wouldn't we be better off and our families, co-workers, friends and associates be more richly rewarded if we delivered on everything we did in our daily lives with the same intensity that these athletes bring to their own playing fields? It may not make us an Olympian...or even a Renaissance man, but it just might make our own little corner of the world a better place to be.
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