Do dreams have a time limit?
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships took place over the weekend, and as I watched the skaters compete for spots on the Olympic team the answer was: YES!
Athletes that dream of competing in the Olympics train for many years hoping to make the team for an event that only happens every four years. There is a small window of opportunity, and this weekend it was exhilarating and heartbreaking to watch dreams fulfilled and dashed.
Gracie Gold lived up to her name and won the U. S. Ladies title. She will go into the Olympics as a favorite. Meanwhile
Alissa Czisny is out with an injury, and didn't even get to compete at Nationals this year. She was the U.S. Champion in 2011.
Ashley Wagner went into Nationals as the two-time and reigning champion. The huge expectation to win again seemed to overwhelm her, and she ended up in fourth place. She is going to the Olympics thanks to her international placements over the last couple of years, so she will still have a chance to perform a flawless routine in Sochi, Russia. This year Nationals was just a stepping stone toward the bigger dream of competing at the Olympics and winning gold. Go USA!
In comparison, writing and publication is a timeless dream. I see writing as a daily challenge, and I'm competing against myself. I'll never get too old to try. That is comforting to me. Creating a masterpiece still takes the discipline, focus, and perseverance of an Olympic athlete. You have to write consistently, learn the craft, push through distractions, maintain motivation, and keep sending out your manuscript until it is accepted. But you don't have to wait four years to compete. So seize the day and write!
Did you watch the U. S. Figure Skating Championships this weekend? What Olympic sport are you looking forward to watching? I'm curious about the new Figure Skating team event. Do you have a timeless dream that you are pursuing or that came true later in life?