The Olympic Dream

March 7, 2010

One of my favorite theme songs throughout my life has been, ‘To Dream the Impossible Dream’ from Man of LaMancha. In midlife, I can see evidence of it everywhere as I surround myself with circumstances and people that inspire my own dreams.

It shows up in the warm afterglow of the Olympic Games that just ended last week. I held my breath in the last hockey game between Canada and the United States and when it went into overtime, I put a blanket over my head because I just couldn’t look anymore. When Canada scored there was a gleeful phone exchange with one of my cherished American friends as we cajoled with each other about that heart stopping moment.

It shows up when one of my clients was celebrating the launching of my website and the branding of ‘the red shoe journey in midlife’. She gave me a gift that left me speechless and with it she wrote, “thank you for helping me to give myself permission to wear my own “red shoes” however impractical they may appear to others. I know that I need to be true to my own desires and passions to truly realize all I am meant to be. I will take the road less traveled in my red shoes!’

We all carry within us the Olympic heart. It’s a heart that asks to dream the impossible dream, to follow its own star, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far. It is in midlife the Olympic torch that touches our hearts and asks us to run where the brave dare not go, to be true to our own glorious quest. At first it is a whisper and when ignored becomes persistent, and when we attempt to shove it down it becomes downright bold and insistent threatening ‘overthrow’ if we do not heed its call.

It becomes a time of yielding to the power within even when arms become too weary and it feels like hell, but we know ‘its heavenly cause and that the world will be better for this’. It is for our having been there, for having taken our place at the table of life and for having taken the road less traveled that ‘dreams really do come true’. It is about stepping into ‘red shoes’.

P.S. When you have a moment, shoot me an email and tell me about ‘your impossible dream’. I would love to hear it! Jan