People Fall Down But Winners Get Up

“I was ahead in the slalom.  But in the second run, everyone fell on a dangerous spot.  I was beaten by a woman who got up faster than I did.  I learned that people fall down, winners get up, and gold medal winners just get up faster.”  ~Bonnie St. John

My Chai Tea introduced me to a fascinating woman last night.  I was into what was probably my third drink when I read the “The Way I See It” on the back of the Starbuck’s cup.  I always read them, but when varies with my enthusiasm for the drink.  If it’s my second trip in one day, I read it before drink number 1 - if I’ve missed a day, I get to it around drink number 2 or 3.  If I’ve missed a week (hey, it happened once when I had the flu), I meet the speaker as the cup’s meeting the trash can.

The beautiful individual sharing their thoughts with me last night was Bonnie St. John, the second-fastest amputee skier in the world in 1984, and the first black Olympic ski medalist.  She’s also earned the prestigious title of Rhodes Scholar, as well as a position in the White House during the Clinton administration.  She has worked on Wall Street, in Europe and Asia, and was an award-winning sales representative for IBM. She’s now an author and motivational speaker - sometimes in person, sometimes on the back of Chai tea.  Oh, yeah, she also has degrees from both Harvard and Oxford…..and was named one of NBC Nightly News “five most inspiring women in America.”

I’m certain she has other accomplishments, and I know more will come - but you get the idea.  The lady has more than just a smile that could stop traffic, she has a red cape somewhere in her closet.

I absolutley love her quote. Life has a lot of uncertainties, but there’s one thing you can count on - there will be falls, and no shortage of them.  You’ll find yourself literally face down on the bed, couch, or floor - not wanting to get up ever again.  Not wanting to face the day, the future, or any part of either - simply because the pain’s more than you can bear.  You just want to lay there in a pitiful heap and will everything else to go away. 

It’s then that you have to pull yourself up by the back of your top - sometimes kicking and spitting and sometimes booing and hooing. 

Well, it’s that or either stay down.

As Superwoman says, winners get up….champions get up faster.

Joi

For a beautiful tribute that Bonnie wrote the day after she lost her mom, click HERE.  Her words about courage are words the whole world should read.  More than once.

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