Many of us, myself included, cleared out of Whistler/ Vancouver, thinking the 2010 Olympic Games were over and done with. Little were we aware that a whole other competition would take place with people from all over the globe pushing their own limits, battling against one another in pursuit of that perfect run.

“The notion of true sport – pure sport, has been understood by all of us,” said International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven at the closing ceremonies on March 21st. “With excellence, our Paralympic athletes came here to compete fairly, and the result was a fantastic show of sportsmanship. Together, we have all captured the Paralympic Spirit from these Games and can carry it around the world. With this, our athletes, coaches and officials will encourage new athletes, make new friends and inspire them to light the flame in their hearts.”

Last fall I watched the annual Warren Miller shredder movie “Dynasty” and in it an adaptive skier (I forgot his name) voiced with what looked like all the universe’s joy in his face after an epic run on his sit-ski that he “felt like one of the lucky ones.” He seemed to suggest that he was not the disabled one, because every day he’s alive and shredding, he FEELS LIFE and has awareness of the gift that day brings. It’s almost as though his “challenge” has set him free.

On the contrary, many “able-bodied” people start their day with indifference and oftentimes even apathy, allowing road blocks to stymie and hijack their disposition.

There is something truly inspiring when we hear people rise above “normal” and “ordinary” and GO OUT THERE and squeeze the juice — every last drop — out of every day, no matter what it brings.

I get goosebumps just sitting here and writing about it. To the coaches and athletes who competed in the 2010 Paralympics in Vancouver and Whistler, like shredders George Sansonetis, Brad Washburn, Alana Nichols, Jessica Tidswell, and many others, you inspire all of us to see all the gifts our day presents and then go out and receive them.

What are you grateful for today? Go ahead and leave a comment!

Shred on!

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