Starting Anew

There's an unusual confluence of events at this time -- Chinese New Year of the Tiger, Valentine's Day, the Olympics, getting my home ready for renters while I'm away, and packing for a 7 week trip to Taiwan, Bali, Singapore, and China. It was easier to travel in the years when I was a nomad in the world. Having a house and regular obligations involve a lot more details to be thought of and arranged for.

I find the Olympics endlessly happy, sad, inspiring, dramatic, and absolutely riveting. I stay glued to the television, trying to imagine what forces are at work during these two weeks. There are so many pure emotions visible to millions of viewers, and so many contradictions. While the athletes have trained intensively every day for years to be able to participate, their whole futures -- financial, personal, emotional, job-related -- are decided in milliseconds. Rejoicing at scoring number 1 at an event can be very short-lived when the next participants may knock number 1 to number 10.

In the Olympics, 30 is already over the hill or pushing your luck. I love the freshness, unwrinkled youth of the Olympians. But then the announcer explains that the 22 year old who just skied down the mountain in record time has had six knee surgeries. While many have suffered serious injuries, it seems their only goal in getting better is so they can strap on the skis or skates again. It's a devotion to that "something" that makes them well again.

At an age where keeping my physical balance is an effort and a concern, I revel in the way their bodies respond to their commands. And, in spite of being televised around the world, the focus these young people have on their faces to perform as well as possible, humbles me. They face fear and danger as few of us "mere mortals" can in the pursuit of their craft. They don't HAVE to be there; they WANT to be there -- and nowhere else.

While all the ills of our world continue -- wars, famine, sorrow, sickness -- the Olympics pulls together nations of the world far better than the United Nations can. Some of the countries marching in had one or two or just a few athletes. But they walked in proudly, happily, and warmly welcomed by all. There are innumerable inequalities in facilities for training, money for trainers, the backing of sponsors, but there is absolute equality in the Olympic arenas for all the athletes who have won the right to compete. The "best" man or woman can win.

For these two weeks, I want to vicariously look at the world through the eyes of these young people who give their all to succeed in their sport, while, at the same time, spontaneously and whole-heartedly offering support, caring, and even love to their kindred spirits.