I recently saw (and very much enjoyed) the movie Eddie the Eagle. It's one of those feel-good sports movies that make you believe reaching your dreams is possible.
Eddie Edwards wanted to be in the Olympics ever since he was a child. He tried hurdles and field events, but was never good enough to qualify. Then he got the idea to switch to the Winter Olympics and attempted to become a member of the ski team. He failed in that sport as well. Finally, he had the idea to become a ski jumper. Britain did not have a team, meaning he had no one to beat if he could qualify with the Olympic minimum.
The movie, of course, shows the many trials and tribulations, including life-threatening injuries that Eddie sustained in his quest. It is as much about sacrifice as triumph, but what I loved about it was how Eddie kept finding ways to go around the obstacles that were before him. Almost anyone else, and some would argue any sane person, would have given up at several junctures, but this was Eddie's dream and he was going to pursue it, even if it (literally) killed him.
I think we can all take a lesson from Eddie the Eagle. We may not need to ski off the equivalent of a 30 story building to achieve our dream, but if we want it desperately enough, it is possible to achieve. We need to keep the big picture in mind (i.e.: be in the Olympics) and not let the details stop us (i.e.: Summer Olympics, a specific sport, a sport our nation competes in). If we stay focused on the ultimate goal, like Eddie, we literally can fly.
-- beth triplett
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@leadershipdots
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