Profile in Courage

It was such a privilege this evening to witness Simone Biles perform again. 

We've watched her very public crisis as the first week of Olympic competition made it's way across the screen and the page. Everyone seems to have an opinion about her choices, and some of those expressed have lacked compassion or empathy in ways that have surprised me. My being surprised, of course, is no surprise. I often underestimate the unkindness of strangers.

When I look at Simone, I see courage. And I'm grateful for her example. How many of us have soldiered through when it hasn't been good for us and when it hasn't really been necessary? How many of us have made the choice to soldier through because we are worried about what others will think of our choice? How many of us look at the words "self care" and think we're reading some kind of strange language? How many of us have pushed ourselves and been hurt when we've not known when we should have stopped and said no?

There is no doubt that Simone Biles is fierce. Her performance this week has taken our understanding of that to a new level. I'm thinking it might be wonderful if Simone's legacy had less to do with gymnastics and more to do with teaching people how to choose health over gratuitous achievement.  

A Hundred Days of Happiness is a daily writing practice that opens a landscape of discovery into my own human experience.

Katherine Cartwright has been blogging since 2012, and each year brings new wonders.. She asks big questions of the small things in life .

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