I just got home from the gym and on the way out I noticed a few weightlifters who obviously were lifting with the purpose of eventually lifting more weight for competitions. They were competitive weightlifters.

I just happened to notice these guys and began to wonder about competition and what makes people rise up to the challenges that they are faced with.

Then when I got home I saw the Olympic coverage on NBC and noticed that I was looking at the pinnacle of competition and rising to the challenges that you are presented. These men and women from all over the world are the very best - bar none (except maybe the US Men’s Basketball team). These athletes do what they do, but not for the gold medal or for the world record - those are things that would drive you and me to reach their level of fame.

These men and women do what they do because they want to be the best. They want to beat their opponents. They do, indeed, rise to the challenge. And as we’ve seen on more than one occassion at these Olympics - they often break world records in the process.

The fact is that people are faced with competition and challenges all over the place. Some rise to them and beat them and some cower and run away. I applaud those who have figured out their challenges and defeated them or risen to the challenge that they were given and overcome it.

So, from the Olympic athletes who commit themselves to being the very best in the world to the office worker who tries his best to get that raise and ultimately does to the former chronic drinker who went to AA and defeated his demons to the kid riding his bike at the bike course and tries to break his previous time for a mile…I say that I am impressed. You have not cowered in the face of opposition; sometimes you’ve even created your own opposition to defeat.

Congratulations - you’re spirit is what makes this place fun!

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