Going for Gold

The Vancouver Olympics are on and I've been watching with the family. Who needs cable when you've got talent like that on the television. Drama, action, tears and joy and glamor all in a bid for the gold. My kids, of course, are riveted and have been doing luge runs on a skateboard in the living room. The dogs just are part of the obstacle course.

I often wonder about being an athlete. It has got to feel so great to stretch yourself and to fly. To extend your hopes and dreams from your heart, through your muscles, all the way out to your finger tips. To go for it. Visualize and achieve.

But the biggest challenge must be deciding when to "go for it" and when to play it safe. How do you know when to do the triple lutz? You've practiced the double a gazillion times. You can do it in your sleep. When do you know to throw that little something extra in?

The front-runner has it easy. All she needs to do is do what she has practiced over and over again. She knows at what level she needs to compete. She is expected to achieve greatness. Everyone else has it tough. To beat that front runner, you need to throw in that extra something. And that extra something could land you on your butt. On cold ice, which can't feel too good. So do you play it safe? Clean? Do your best? Or do you push it a little?

I'm sure it's a dilemma for those Olympic athletes, after working their whole lives to only find themselves vying for 6th or 7th place. Do they think about the thousands of other athletes who would have given up eye teeth for a spot in Vancouver? Are they grateful for the opportunity and appreciative of their gifts? Are they satisfied with 6th or 7th? Or do they desire to push it a little?

When are we satisfied with our achievements? Our careers, our families, our dreams and ambitions. There is always another front-runner to chase. Another goal to work toward. Sometimes it's good to play it safe and guarantee comfortable success for yourself and your family. That is an admirable way to live. When do you play it safe? When do you do your best? And when do you push it and do your better?