My boyfriend often sends me sports articles that he knows I would like, but would never read of my own volition. He did it again today, and I wanted to make note of a quote that really struck me:
There is a great saying: Half of life is just showing up. Well, I just found out the most wonderful news! So is the other half. That is all we’re supposed to do, show up. Showing up is hardly passive; it’s the sly first cousin of initiative. We’re supposed to go places and see what happens when we get there. We’re supposed to try things and see what happens when we do. Above all else, we owe it to ourselves to show up for our own dreams. Showing up is doable, even if the dream isn’t.
This is from lovely article by Kathryn Bertine on ESPN’s E-ticket site. Katherine is a former professional ice skater who took the plunge into triathlon and spent the last two years making a bid for the Olympics in Beijing. While she didn’t succeed, her story is touching and inspiring, and her writing style is warm and very human.
Anyone who knows me at all knows I’m no kind of athlete. Active, yes, but sports and me just don’t mix (unless video games count as a sport). All the same, even someone as nonathletic as me can find inspiration in this particular story. Why is this blog-worthy? Because I think what she’s saying rings true. Life is like the lottery – if you don’t buy a ticket, you’ll never win. Another thing I really like is that her triumph is rooted in failure. She didn’t make the Olympics. But she’s okay with that, and still found value in the experience. This is at the heart of what learning and life are all about.
So thank you Kathryn for sharing, and thanks internet for letting me keep this and share it with others.
