Are You Living for One Moment in Time?

As I sat glued to my television yesterday watching the Ladies Free Skate at the Winter Olympics, my heart began to race. Um, I was watching on television, why was my heart racing?

I am a huge sports fan and have been watching Olympic figure skating since I can remember.

I know Peggy Fleming won the gold medal in 1968, when I was not quite two years old. I suppose I’ve been mesmerized (like many others) with the beauty and artistry of figure skating since Dorothy Hamill won the gold in 1976. Back then I was, obviously, much younger and the Olympians were older than me. Now, I’m so much older than the competitors, yet I still feel the tug of competition in my heart. That feeling to be the best…

I was listening to Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir building up to the hype of the final six skaters thinking about what they must be going through – living their lives for this one moment in time, essentially four minutes on the ice for gold and glory or…whatever. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think winning a silver or bronze, or heck, even making it to the Olympics, is a whatever, but for most of the athletes (or, at least in figure skating), it seems that’s the case. The lyrics of the song the late Whitney Houston made famous, One Moment in Time, were playing over and over in my head:

I want one moment in time
When I’m more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I’m racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel
I will feel eternity

What happens if that “one moment” doesn’t go the way you planned – or dreamed about?

I love what Gracie Gold, the US Ladies Champion, said prior to the free skate, “It’s not always the best skater who wins, it’s about who skates the best in that competition.” In this case, THAT competition is the Winter Olympics. “Such a healthy attitude,” I thought.

And it made me think about my company, Bravo! Wellness, and reinforced why I chose the tagline, “for the best performance of your life.” I lived my life trying to live up to the expectations of others, and thought you either were the best or you were whatever. I suffered from not being good enough – not smart enough, not pretty enough, not skinny enough, not popular enough, not funny enough, and on and on and on…

I say suffer because my low self-esteem and anxiety led to an addiction to sugar and then bulimia. The success I had with good grades in school and then high achievement in my career masked the despair I felt inside as I strove for perfection. I lived each day as if it were a spelling bee – every mistake meant I was a loser.

I’ve learned, however, that it is about giving it your all, doing your best, that counts, ultimately, in life. If you can sit down at the end of the day and feel confident that you did your best, I believe that is all anyone can ask of you. It’s YOUR best and YOUR life…so go for it!

As for the Olympics, that is about a specific day and moment in time. You are, indeed, racing with destiny. The best skater may not win. The gold medal may end up going to the one who skates the best in the allotted four minutes.

With that thought I realized how lucky I am that I have the opportunity to give it my all every day, not just for one moment in time every four years.

To all the talented athletes at the Olympics, I say, Bravo! for doing what you do, and for entertaining me and millions around the world with your skills, artistry, talent, commitment and bravery. I’m in awe.

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