I am building a fire, and every day I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match.” —Mia Hamm, gold-medal soccer player
Red Gerard was sitting dead last in the men's slopestyle snowboarding final early yesterday in South Korea after his first two runs down the course. He botched his first run, finishing with a score of 43.33. His second run wasn't much better as he wiped out and received a score of 46.60. But he crushed his final run to put up a score of 87.16, essentially doubling his score.
The 17-year-old former Clevelander won the Olympic gold medal, America's first gold medal of the Pyeongchang Olympic Games.
Jamie Anderson broke her elbow and cracked a rib last year. Before that, she suffered a broken collarbone, smashed her pelvis, and was in intensive care for six days. She suffered a spell of self-doubt and fear.
Yesterday, strong winds forced a change in the format of the Olympic women’s slopestyle snowboarding competition. Instead of having three runs to attain a best score, the athletes were given just two tries.
Jamie Anderson won the gold medal, America’s second gold medal of the Winter Olympic Games. She said, “I connected with my lion power and found my feet.”
Many of us feel overwhelmed by the negativity, dysfunction, and violence we see around the world. Many of us feel behind in our work and our life. Sometimes we get stuck in a corner and feel like there’s no way out or up.
But not a day goes by when we can’t find a Red Gerard or a Jamie Anderson to lift our spirits and see a path forward.
Think of Red Gerard moments before his final run. Think of Jamie Anderson in intensive care.
Connect with your lion power. Find your feet. Light a match.
Go for it.
Have a great week.
For copies of past messages, please go to this link: Monday Morning Messages.
My best,
Lee