The Olympics remind me to never give up.

Every two years we get treated to the summer or the winter Olympics. It’s 16 days of athletic events, some I think are absurd, but most are fascinating and I can sit glued to my tv screen rooting for any and all of them. I appreciate the pageantry but most of all, I appreciate the spirit of harmony and camaraderie that is displayed between countries. Every single person competing worked hard to get there, I want them all to enjoy the moment.

As I watched the teams float down the Seine in the rain, there was nothing but joy on their faces. They made it to the Olympics. Whether they win a medal or not, it doesn’t matter, they have already made it to the title of “Olympic athlete”. That’s pretty awesome.

Imagine how much the athletes have given up to be there; a “normal” life, practice when tired, weary, or hurt, yet they keep going. They also can’t do it alone. They are surrounded by coaches, teammates, family, sponsors, all invested in their success, but no one can compete for them- only they have the special talent for that sport, yet they all have one thing in common. They persevere.

Not giving up or perseverance is the key. We can talk about sports, our health, our relationships- you name it, that’s the answer. Keep going. You can’t give up when it get’s hard, or you are tired, or the end does not seem like it’s in sight. (Ok- you can give up, but does that get you where you want to go? No.)

What happens if I don’t give up? Life changes, opportunities arise, relationships blossom, I learn and I grow. I’m not a quitter. One year ago today, I published my first post on this blog. One year later, I have grown quite a bit and learned quite a lot. What’s the lesson? Listen to (and trust) the voice guiding you and most importantly, keep going. You are not alone in this. I have faith in you, you can do it!

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