I get mad when I watch the Olympics.

It’s not because I can’t stand the blatant commercialism of what was previously an ‘amateur only’ sport.  Nor is it because of the rampant battle between which athletes have the best ‘performance enhancements’ and the poorly funded drug testing centers.  I also don’t mind that the majority of these athletes will end up working at the equivalent of Home Depot after their career is over, the result of thousands of hours in the pursuit of what will likely be a glorious memory that they will be able to relive over and over again during the countless hours of photocopying and temping they’ll do following their athletic career (cynical much?)

The reason I get mad when I watch the Olympics is because of us.  Western society is what I’m talking about.  We’ll watch these athletes give their hardest, their very last breath to do amazing things with their bodies – while sitting down on our comfy couches.

It’s the equivalent of eating a bag of chips while watching the biggest loser.

We watch these amazing athletes and we should be inspired.  Across the globe we should be leaping out of our couches, leaving behind the well-formed moulding from the 8 hour Olympic opening ceremony we trudged through and jumping out of the house to go and be our best, to honor the efforts of these athletes, nay, these WARRIORS that have risked it all to be the best they can be.

Really? You only got Bronze? Dude, you didn’t even look like you were trying hard!  I know because I was watching you on my fullscreen HD tv in my lazy boy recliner, so I was giving you my full attention by removing any distractions such as discomfort or the need to use any muscles whatsoever.

But no.  We watch, we critique, we complain.  It’s the problem with having a series of amazingness on the same stage.  Ever been to a figure competition?  It’s amazing to see such a large collection of beautifully sculpted bodies receiving such an underwhelming response.  The first few lean goddesses walk on stage and the crowd goes wild.  But by the time 14, 15 or 16 comparable hotties have walked out, the applause has died down.  People have started comparing.  If you check out this video, look at the two guys TALKING TO EACH OTHER.  They’re not even looking.  It’s become so disinteresting to them that they’d rather review their latest video game purchases or the last episode of ‘game of thrones’.

Dude, when do the hotties get here?

Forget that every single one of these women have sacrificed, starved and sweated to near exhaustion for this moment.  Any one of these women up on stage would turn heads… no, they would break necks, such is the outstanding level of their athleticism.  But we adjust. We adapt.  We forget that what they’ve done required herculean effort and discipline.

So if you’re inspired and have already started doing something about it, that’s awesome.  My hat goes off and my respect goes out to you.  But if you’re one of the complacent do-nothing-but-criticize folk that get angry because your countries athlete didn’t win every medal ever… don’t get mad.  Get out there.  Work hard at something and see how you do with it.  Will you end up at the Olympics competing against them?  Probably not.  And you don’t need to make it to the Olympics to be a success or an amazing athlete.  It might be close, or it might be far away from your current physical status.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to pick it up a notch in your own life.  

With just a small start fueled by great enthusiasm over time will you make an amazing transition in your life and never be the same person again?  Probably.

I hope you do something.  Because those games should be more than just endorsement opportunities.  They should be inspiration that inspire activation.  To me, that’s what the Olympics needs to be right now.  And it’ll start with you.

Now get up and DO something with the world.

 

Yours in health,

Jamie Atlas

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