Day 45 "Do YOU Believe?"

I'm sure by now you all know that Canada won it's first gold medal in Vancouver! Not just the first IN Vancouver, but it's the first gold won in an Olympics held in our own country. Big stuff. HUGE! Congratulatons Alexandre Bilodeau! I watched his mogul run and all of the interviews afterwards, including the one with his family. His older brother Frederic was born with cerebral palsy and was told he wouldn't walk after the age of 10. He's now 28 and still walking. According to his younger brother and our new gold medal champ, he never complains about his condition, nor lets it get in the way of things he wants to do. Alex calls him his hero and the inspiration behind his winnings. I can see why.

It was all so touching. I shed more than a few tears watching it. The first when Alex won his race and more again as they showed Frederic cheering wildly from the sidelines.

I started to think how dedicated these athletes are. How something like that can inspire them to do the almost impossible. How hard they train to become champions. I really don't know what the diets of these hard working athletes is, but I can guess that they're not often stuffing their faces with junk food or drinking diet pop. Not because they might not crave a loaded two ton cheeseburger and in Alex's case a Poutine (fries, topped with cheese curds and gravy for those of you that don't know), but because they know they can't. Not if they want to do well. I can guess too, that they're not talking themselves out of some grueling workout because they're too lazy to do it. They push. They push and push themselves to unbelievable limits. I'm sure there are times they'd like to quit. I'm sure there are tears. I'm almost positive there are disappointments, but they keep moving forward, always striving to win.

I'm sure you see where I'm going with this.

If Alex can push himself to win...if Jennifer Heil, Hannah Kearney and even Frederic can do it. Then why can't I? I can do the seemingly impossible...can't I? Perhaps the theme of our 2010 Olympics fits well into our healthier lifestyle vision..."Do you believe?"

I do!