Represent Your Nation
I love the Summer Olympics.
I was 8 years old when I fell in love with the essence and
spirit of the Summer Olympics…I
remember watching the Seoul Olympic games at every opportunity.
I loved when the commentators would give the back-stories of athletes
and inspiring interludes to “the games of
the XXIV Olympiad…”
I loved it then…I love it now.
Earlier this week, Bob Costas delivered a great intro as the
prime time telecast of the London
Olympics 2012 came on NBC. His
words struck me…as a OneMoreStep opportunity to all of us…even if we’re not Olympians ourselves.
Bob Costas said, “they
compete to win…but often they represent so much more…”
Olympians are ultimate competitors. While individual achievement and
accolades may drive them, a common thread runs through each and every one of
them…they’re representing their nation.
OneMoreStep Thought,
for all of us as another Olympic Games wraps up this weekend in London: Represent Your Nation
na·tion /ˈnāSHən/
Noun: 1. A large aggregate of people united
by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular
country or territory.
We all belong to a nation
of some sort. In some way, shape,
or form, we are all part of something.
Whether it be our family…our
hometown…our home state…our home country…our schools…or even our company or organization that employs us…and even within that company, we’re a
part of our department…our team within the company.
Whatever the “aggregate
of people” to which we belong may be…shouldn’t we represent it well?
Our past has shaped us…the choices we make today will continue to dictate the lives
we lead and define us as human beings – as friends,
brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers…and bosses,
coworkers, and providers of service
or givers of love…to whomever may
need it or desire it, from us.
Will we, as individuals, be well received? What about our families? The reputation and “street credibility” of our schools,
hometowns, home states, native countries, companies, or even the teams to which
we belong at work; don’t we owe it to, not only ourselves, but to the very
nations to which we belong, to represent
them well?
Of course we do.
We should take pride in who
we are, the towns/states/schools/countries
from which we’ve come, and we should even take pride in being a part of the
team we’re on at work.
We should represent…with everything we do, everything we
say, and even how we say it…how we go about our daily routines…we should represent our nation...
Wherever you are today, wherever you’re from, and to whichever
nation you may belong…represent it well.
Go OneMoreStep, if for no other reason than to simply represent your nation…
Have a great day…and enjoy the last days of the games of the 30th
Olympiad in London…win or lose, may your nation be represented well.
Taylor
Well said Tay---
ReplyDeleteI've loved every minute of the Olympics and held my breath for every athlete who participated and gave their all. I have a post coming out tonight-- somewhat Olympic related---- I'd love to link to this post-
Vicki
Once again well said, I love reading what you write. Love the Olympics.
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