I created this episode in July 2006, talking about the wonder that is Bode Miller and how he goes for the spirit of skiing perhaps more than the medals. Today he won a gold medal, and I think it’s worth re-visiting. You’ll likely be able to see the changes we have made at Beach Walks over the past four years! Here is the original episode Beach Walk 146.
My hero du jour is Bode Miller, the so-called “bad boy” of downhill skiiing. I really dislike those kinds of labels, especially in cases like this where I believe he is a true ground-breaker. He offers up a very different way to live a life, one that is not invested in the results of what you do. He is one of the most competent skiers on the planet yet he is not invested in winning. He could ski in private, and choose not to be in competition, but part of the deep pleasure he has is giving the spectators an inspirational experience — and more often than not that distinctly includes not winning the race.
What if competition were not just about winning, which means only one person or team gets to be happy with the result? What if it were also about seeing how you perform under pressure? What if were also about being able to go places and do things that are not otherwise available? What if it were about the process and not the result? When it is, there is no way to lose.
Try this on today: Don’t get invested in the results of what you do. At it’s core, it is a radical thought.
You can read more and watch the CBS video here.
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A good show worth repeating. Having a show up once in awhile is good idea. You and Shane deserve a life and not just entertain us mainlanders.
Gayle and I do have our B&B reserved for next January and February in Kailua.
Aloha!
(from 30+” of snow on the ground)
Eldon
SO glad to hear you are coming back again Eldon. As for Bode, I heard him still say something like, “It was great fun to ski this well, medal or not.” He has retains that deep inner connection to what he does, regardless of the external events around him.
I was just watching the the USA vs Canada Women’s ice hockey game and after they had and interview with one of the USA girls who said “getting the silver sucks” That just blew me away. To think of all the competitors at the games that never even come close to gold. I was taught that as long as you have fun in what you do. The outcome is always good no matter what.
Hi Mindy! Good to hear from you again! There are those who invest everything in “the gold” – I suppose it is motivational, but you miss out on the joys of the process in between, and then face potential devastation if you don’t win. “Different strokes for different folks” I guess!
(BTW other readers: if outrigger canoeing were an Olympic sport, no doubt Ms Mindy would be a Gold medalist! She has steered her canoe to victory hundreds of times across the roughest seas and longest distances, yet remains one of the most generous people I know. She has lots of great videos on her site outriggercanoe.blogspot.com and is one of the many wonderful folks I have met as a result of BeachWalks.tv!)
Aloha Rox and Mindy,
Of all the competitive sports I’ve been involved in I must say outrigger canoeing is the one which truly manifests competition without attitude. In the water it’s extremely competitive, after the race it’s aloha friendly.
I do wonder though, if it were an olympic sport with so much on the line if that wouldn’t change things.
Great reminder. Evan Lysacek competed in a similar fashion…said he knew he’d given a performance of a lifetime whether he won or not. And that was reflected on his face right after his skate. He also handled the guff from Plushenko with tremendous class.
I was saddened by the announcers throughout the Games…talking about athletes who didn’t win as “letting down their country” and the like. And the Korean figure skater who, prior to competition, was reported as saying she worried her country would “turn their backs on her” if she didn’t win.
@Celeste – I agree the announcers were hooked into or scripted into the “letʻs create false drama” mindset that is so popular in mainstream media. And some countries do put enormous pressure on their athletes to win at all costs. Clearly, even at this game, there were many separate sub-games being played simultaneously!
Isnʻt it nice we can still co-mingle (letʻs say be on the same slope together) and not buy into what others are thinking or feeling? I love that!
I have always believed,
“It’s about the journey,not the destination….” and it appears that ‘Bode’ also subscribes to this line of thought !