"There is something in the Olympics, indefinable, springing from the soul, that must be preserved."

It should be of no surprise to anyone who follows me on literally any form of social media or has interacted with me in the past week that I am completely addicted to the Olympic games.  I work it in to practically every conversation, I haven't seen an channel other than an NBC affiliate in over a week, and I recite off facts like I have been studying Olympic athletes and not American Politics for the past year and a half.

There is something that just gets to me every single time.

There is no one reason why I love the Olympics like I do. My overwhelming sense of patriotism aside, I often find myself cheering for other country's athletes, holding my breath for them just as I do for our own champions. Why? Because if the Olympics teaches us anything (although I think it teaches a lot), it is that we are all infallibly human. No country is exempt (except maybe the Netherlands in speed-skating, I mean WHAT is that?). We all have the capacity to be extraordinary, but we are not perfect. We can have perfect moments, perfect ten performances, but we also wobble on our way there. We go right when left would have been better. We step forward when we should have stepped back. To say that sports is the great equalizer is a bit of a stretch given the high cost associated with many of these Olympic events, but in other ways it most certainly is.

This is part of what is commonly known as the "Olympic spirit." The Olympic spirit is evident every day, when athletes from countries time zones apart embrace at a finish line or when a coach steps onto the snow to give a ski to another country's competitor. These things happen because these competitors know how hard it was to get here, because they got there too. They know the struggles and the early mornings. The pain and agony of defeat and the sweet taste of victory.

While many tune in to see their country dominate in a particular sport and follow the medal count like maniacs, we should feel privileged to be a part of this Olympic experience. To see not only superior athleticism, but to see such a pure display of the human condition. It is not just about winning, it is about showing up.

For two weeks, we get to see Olympians from various countries show immense passion and pride in what they do. We hear their stories, too, and we cannot help but be moved. We see their falls and their perseverance, and we can see ourselves in those moments. We are reminded in those moments, both the victories and the defeats, just how human we ALL are. Just how alike we all are, regardless of nationality.

Maybe I have never fallen after attempting a quad or been beaten by .01 seconds by a fellow skier, but I have been down, been counted out, or been just beaten out. I am almost certain you all could say the same. In those moments when your heart stops, and maybe breaks, when you avert your eyes and cringe at what is happening on the screen, when you become filled with overwhelming empathy for someone you've never met, never talked to, or seen outside of a television broadcast; that's all due to the fact that you can feel it because you've been there and my goodness do you know how that hurts. But then they get up, they fight on, the finish and you empathize again because you know that was one of the most important lessons you might ever learn.

In life you're going to crash, sometimes hard, but it's all about how you get back up. One mistake isn't going to define you, as long as you don't let it. (Jeremy Abbott, anyone?)

Overall, the Olympics are 16 days of life lesson after life lesson, all of which we would be foolish not to learn. The best you is possible, you just can never, ever, ever give up. Maybe on February 24 we will remember that we disagree with the politics of a certain country or that a certain country disagrees with us, but for now may we seize this opportunity to stand in awe of, and be inspired by what can be accomplished when we recognize our humanity and use it to pick ourselves and others back up when we fall.

Now, all that being said, I wouldn't be opposed to a few more medals for Team USA!

Clothed in awe, inspiration, and patriotism,
Sam

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So, it's Valentine's Day.

Yesterday while I was overseeing third graders decorate bags to hold all of the Valentine's they would receive tomorrow, I had an epiphany. I realized that in elementary school we learn something so valuable through Valentine's Day that we end up forgetting as we get older and supposedly wiser. 

We learn that we have more than enough love within us to give out to everyone we meet.

Think about it. You go to the store with your mom or dad (or whatever grown up takes care of you, as we say in school now) and stand in the aisle of boxed valentines carefully choosing two or three of your favorite boxes and examining the designs and messages on each one. Hmmm princesses, *NSYNC, or the Lion King? JT's blonde tips are horrendous so, hard pass. The Lion King ones aren't nearly pink enough for a proper Valentine's Day by my standards but nothing says love like Simba and Nala. Am I right or am I right? The saying on this Simba one is a little weird though, who would I give that one to? The grown up who took you to the store tries to influence your decision because now you're just spending entirely too much time deciding but you won't be rushed. This is important. You will put intense thought into it as you relish in the anticipation of seeing the faces of your classmates light up when they open your perfectly chosen card, sealed with matching, precisely wrapped sticker.

The seemingly crazy thing is that you probably put the same amount of work into choosing, writing out, and sealing each valentine. You're giving a little love to everyone in your class that day. Everyone. Even that one kid you want to choke because he trips you, steals your pencil, and makes fun of your crush. Maybe you give him your least favorite valentine in the box but you still give him one because you firmly believe that no one should get left out on Valentine's Day. Or you just do it because everyone else is doing it but regardless, you still took the time and put in the effort to give some love to all.

What a relevant and easy-to-understand example of how we should be living every day. Just how and when did we forget this?

Somewhere along the way Valentine's Day became about you and one other person. One other person who may be your significant other, one other person that you are trying to find before Valentine's Day so you're not "alone", one other person who broke your heart either long ago or recently and is the root cause of your Valentine's Day "loneliness".

Can we try something new this year? Or rather, something most of us have not done in a while? Can we make tomorrow about everyone? About loving everyone. About smiling at everyone we pass on the street, in the hallway, at the grocery store. About remembering that there are people who love you everyday and sometimes that love can bring you so much more peace, comfort, and wholeness than a romantic love can.

I'll be spending part of this Valentine's Day with a friend who I don't get to see nearly as much as I'd like to. I'm excited to catch up with her, hear about what's going on in her life, and learn how to love her better. I already know it'll rank among my top best Valentine's days ever.

I pray we can all love each other just a little (or a lot) more unconditionally tomorrow and every day. Because after all, what love really means is choosing to give someone your time and friendship, no matter what.  [[ Shout out to Liquid Kids for that one :) ]]

Clothed in love,
Kelly

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