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In a time of so much division, I believe sports are a powerful and positive force to bring people together. You see… Sport creates moments that get people through their greatest challenges in life as well as support them through the best of times. Sport does this by allowing us to care and connect to a like-minded group. It’s a family that share moments of: …dreams & depression …happiness & healing …fun & fears …triumphs & tears. That’s because those who participate in your sport are your family –connecting, playing, learning, bonding, fighting, loving, ranting, and raving. It’s a place to be raw, real, & resilient through the mental and emotional fluctuations of sports and life. On a broader scale, we don’t even have to speak the same language to play sports with each other. Each sport has it’s own set of rules that every participant understands –despite their race, religion, sex, or nationality. In fact, there is no other event in the world that brings more people together than the Olympics. The great thing about the Olympics is that each of us experiences a deeper connection that goes beyond sports. And that is a beautiful thing. This deeper connection in sport allows our spirits to soar. It’s a place we are able to get lost in the moment –letting go off suffering, sadness, & success. No past. No future. Just moments of being in the now. It’s a place to release the heaviness and relish in utter elation. It’s experiencing a sense of awe. A sense of bliss. For me, it’s pretty simple. Sport fills me up. It strengthens my mind and body, which makes me want to be a better person. And that, my friend, is how we change the world. Rumi captures the essence of this… “Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” I am so grateful that my sports give me a rich opportunity to relax into my true nature, discover my pure potential and that of others, and share these deep experiences with people from all walks of life to make the world a better place. Even Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president and legendary activist most notable for his efforts to dismantle South Africa’s institutionalized racism, ranks sport high on the list to make powerful, transformative changes. At the 1995 Rugby World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mandela convinced a divided nation of blacks and whites to unify and root for their home team, the Springboks –which only had one nonwhite player. With a crowd almost completely white, Mandela went onto the field wearing a Springboks jersey. The crowd was silent. Then, began chanting “Nelson! Nelson! Nelson!” The South African Springboks went on to win the game (Carlin, 2009). Mandela recalls, “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.” What do you think? Has your sport been a positive and powerful force in changing yourself and the world? If so, how? I’d love to hear about it! Send me your brain dump by emailing me. |
Deep Thoughts
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