Inspiration Olympics-Style

Each day I live
I want to be
A day to give
The best of me
I'm only one
But not alone
My finest day
Is yet unknown

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

In 1988, during the Summer Olympics in Seoul, it was Whitney Houston's "One Moment in Time" that choked me up. The first time I heard it was on the television over an emotionally charged montage showing athletes in their moments of glory and agony. The lyrics captured the spirit of the games and expressed the innermost desire of every athlete there. I was fourteen and so inspired that I even bought the album on tape. To this day, whenever the Olympics come around, I rediscover the song's power. Like a Christmas carol that is most potent during the holiday season, the games add resonance to her song.

For Olympic athletes, these two weeks are the culmination of years of hard work, drive and struggle. This is their decisive moment and the possible realization of dreams, which is why the games are so special. It's where potential comes to be transformed into something tangible, like a chance to stand upon a podium, receive a medal and watch the flag rise as the anthem is played.

What would it feel like? I ask that every time I see a medal ceremony. Last week, I was at the gym, running and watching the television directly in front of me. I've tried to watch the set off to the side, but that requires turning my head, which is just asking for trouble. My head and a steering wheel have too much in common and turning is generally not recommended on a treadmill.

The noise of the various cardio machines drowned out the announcers, but the closed captioning informed anyone paying attention that the broadcasters were discussing the drama surrounding Aaron Peirsol's second gold medal. They then cut to his ceremony.

Perhaps it was adrenaline or the effects of running, but watching that particular ceremony at that particular moment was a bigger rush than usual. For a second, it raised my own Olympic hopes (mainly of the delusional sort) and an inside voice shouted, "Beijing in 2008, baby!!" Without the link, of course. My senses returned shortly afterwards.

My other uplifting favorite is John Williams' "Olympic Fanfare", which is played at the beginning of each prime time broadcast. I love how the trumpets make the melody soar. I could listen to it all day, but that would likely drive my coworkers insane, so I try to limit myself to once an hour (or whenever they step away from their desks). It's only a temporary addiction. I hope.

Anyway, this entry was inspired by an entirely different song. As I was getting ready for work this morning, I was listening to Switchfoot's "This is Your Life", which has now become my favorite track from their latest album. Switchfoot may not be as gung ho as Houston, but they express the same sentiment of seizing the present and making the most of it. I wouldn't mind it at all if NBC assembled an Athens montage displaying highlights set to their song.

Yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead
Yesterday is a promise that you've broken
Don't close your eyes
This is your life
And today is all you've got now
And today is all you'll ever have
Don't close your eyes

This is your life
Are you who you want to be?
This is your life
Is it everything that you dreamed that it would be
When the world was younger
And you had everything to lose?