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Olympics 2008: What I Learned from Michael Phelps
By Julie | August 20, 2008
A week and a half ago I did not know who Michael Phelps was. I didn’t know he was a swimmer. I didn’t watch the 2004 Olympics, so I had never seen him swim. This Olympics I have seen all of his races. He amazes me. His story inspires me. It’s been a long summer; I needed some inspiration. Here are things Phelps’s story has taught me:
- God equips us in specific ways, if we follow His leading, He will open doors in His time. It’s been said in commercials, in commentary before, during, and after his races, and even by his mother, “Michael Phelps has a swimmer’s body.” One commercial shows his arms outstretched as someone announces the distance between them, talks about his short legs and long torso, and emphasizes this is ‘the’ body for a swimmer. God gave him that body, which makes perfect sense, because God knew the purpose he had for Michael Phelps.
- Life / people will deter us from our God given purposes. In an interview, Phelps’ mother said as a boy Michael was diagnosed with ADD. It was hard for him to sit still during class; he got distracted easily. Michael was a bit of a misfit in now ‘ordinary’ expectations. I don’t know tons about ADD, but if God designed you to be a swimmer, who needs to constantly move, maybe it’s not your optimal environment to be told to sit for long periods of time. His mother said Michael was made fun of for his “swimmers body” when he was younger, and kids teased him for ears that stick out. Unbelievable, this attractive man was teased for his looks! The measure by which Americans see greatness in Michael Phelps today was ridiculed before he devoped his talent.
- His dream must have seemed pretty unattainable and unconventional. Before I graduated from high school, I had to talk to my guidance counselor about my interests. She looked at aptitude tests we’d done earlier, and from that printed off a list of ‘acceptable’ career paths. Only very normal, mainstream jobs were on the list, mostly 8-5 gigs. I had a classmate who dreamed of working with children. The guidance counselor said this interest did not match her aptitude scores, and printed off her list of ‘acceptable’, very unchallenging career paths. My classmate gave up on her dream and focused on the list she ‘could’ do. What does a guidance counselor say to the boy who dreams of being an Olympic swimmer? How would a computer program map out a long-term plan for him? Does she tell him to get his bachelor’s in Business Administration (they did that a lot in our school)? For Phelps to go as far as he did, surely people told him regularly to give up, that he was a dreamer, it would never happen. Or, he would never be good enough. God given dreams are often abandoned by the right person saying they’re crazy. Most people listen and give up. Michael let those comments fuel him, and he strived harder. He’s determined; I wish we were all more like him.
- Parents still have an impact on their kids. As a parent, I love the relationship Michael Phelps has with his mom. The way he always knew where she was in the stands. It bothered him when he couldn’t find her. In interviews, he talked her up, saying what a great mom she was. She worked, went to school, and still raised three kids by herself. At the same time, as Michael says, she saw that her kids had everything they needed. Michael said one of his inspirations to work as hard as he did was his mother. He saw her hard work, her dedication to her job, her school, and her family, and it fueled him to keep pushing himself. Ask three sets of parents how to balance work and family life and you’ll get 6 different answers, many coming from families with fewer obligations than Mom working and going to school while her son trains to be an Olympian. I certainly don’t know how to answer the question. But the person I’d love to ask is Michael Phelps’s mother. When my kids are adults, I pray to be as close to them as these two seem to be, and if they respect me like he does her, well, what could mean more in life?
- Don’t give up, even if the work is hard. This kid went to school, then swim practice. He was made fun of. He had a dream that usually does not pan out to equal financial freedom, or career longevity. But he worked hard. For years. One commentator said he spends 5 hours a day in the pool. But he doesn’t just swim; he constantly pushes himself, and tries to better his performance. In this country, most people don’t pursue a career; they end up with one. That job locks them into certain hours, specific pay, and many times the employee’s range of skills are not used. I don’t want to say it’s wrong. We all need a consistent job. But if you feel a different calling inside, why not pursue it? Maybe you’ll still work, and pursue the dream as a hobby. If the hobby gives you happiness isn’t it worth it? Or maybe, in time, with consistent work and dedication, something may change. An opportunity may come your way. And like Michael Phelps, your dreams will come true, too. You’ll have the satisfaction of knowing everyone who said you were crazy, well, they’ll be wrong, won’t they? It worked for him, why not you?
Topics: Awesome People, Encouragement, Life and Living |
