Olympic Ode
What if you'd let some Athletic focus into your life?
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Dear reader,
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When I look back on this Olympic summer, one thing moved me the most: the song. And I asked myself: what makes an Olympian? Well, many things we learned these past few weeks.
The game is changing. At the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, for the first time in history, there were equal numbers of men and women competing (UN Women).
Thanks to the world's fastest mother, track and field athlete Allyson Felix, it was the first event with childcare and nursing facilities. (Los Angeles Times).
So many disciplines. So many rules, techniques and customs. People of all shapes and sizes, contrary to what the fashion brands would have you believe (see @_Nelly_London’s post on Instagram).
And a whole lot of love, from the city that breathes it to the Olympians and their fans.
So what was Céline Dion singing so late at night on the Eiffel Tower? Hymne à l’Amour, originally by Édith Piaf. I've tried to translate it in the video below.
De blauwe lucht boven ons kan vallen
The blue sky above may fall
Le ciel bleu sur nous peut s'effondrer
En de aarde zou wel eens kunnen instorten
And the Earth may well collapse
Et la Terre peut bien s'écrouler
Het maakt me niet uit zolang jij van me houdt
I don't care as long as you love me
Peu m'importe si tu m'aimes
Ik zit er niet over in
I do not care
Je me fous du monde entire
Zolang de liefde mijn ochtenden overspoelt
As long as love floods my mornings
Tant qu'l'amour innondera mes matins
Zolang mijn lichaam trilt onder jouw handen
As long as my body quivers under your hands
Tant qu'mon corps frémira sous tes mains
Zijn de problemen niet belangrijk
I don't care about the problems
Peu m'importe les problèmes
Mijn liefste, omdat jij van mij houdt
My love, since you love me
Mon amour, puisque tu m'aimes
Ik zou naar het einde van de wereld gaan
I would go to the ends of the world
J'irais jusqu'au bout du monde
Ik zou mijn haar blond laten verven
I would get dyed blonde
Je me ferais teindre en blonde
Als jij het me zou vragen
If you asked me
Si tu me le demandais
Ik zou de maan gaan halen
I would go and get the moon
J'irais décrocher la Lune
Ik zou het fortuin gaan stelen
I would go and steal the fortune
J'irais voler la fortune
Als jij het me zou vragen
If you asked me
Si tu me le demandais
Ik zou mijn vaderland verloochenen
I would deny my homeland
Je renierais ma patrie
Ik zou met mijn vrienden breken
I would deny my friends
Je renierais mes amis
Als je het me zou vragen
If you asked me
Si tu me le demandais
Je kunt me uitlachen
You can laugh at me
On peut bien rire de moi
Maar ik zou alles doen
I would do anything
Je ferais n'importe quoi
Als jij het me zou vragen
If you asked me
Si tu me le demandais
Als het leven je op een dag van mij weg scheurt
If one day life tears you away from me
Si un jour, la vie t'arrache à moi
Als je sterft, mag je dan ver van mij verwijderd zijn
If you die, you may be far away from me
Si tu meurs, que tu sois loin de moi
Het maakt me niet zolang jij van me houdt
I don't care as long as you love me
Peu m'importe si tu m'aimes
Want ik zou ook sterven
Because I would die too
Car moi je mourrais aussi
We zullen de eeuwigheid voor ons hebben
We will have eternity for us
Nous aurons pour nous l'éternité
In het blauw van alle onmetelijkheid
In the blue of all the immensity
Dans le bleu de toute l'immensité
In de lucht zijn er geen problemen
In the sky there are no more problems
Dans le ciel, plus de problème
Mijn liefste, denk je dat wij van elkaar houden?
My love, do you think we love each other?
Mon amour, crois-tu qu'on s'aime?
God verenigt degenen die liefhebben
God unites those who love
Dieu réunit ceux qui s'aiment
All problems
The song begins with "the problems". The blue sky may fall and the Earth may collapse. 2023 was the hottest year ever and for 2024 it is yet to be seen. Many people are now not only struggling with their own problems, they feel the world’s problems on their shoulders too. They are looking for ways to cope. They are trying to change their lifestyle. They try to focus their work on solving some of these problems. And they try to stay positive.
A global study by The Lancet, in which 10,000 people participated, showed that most young people are "very concerned" or "extremely concerned" about climate change ( De Correspondent, published in Dutch, and I highly recommend reading it if you can. It’s titled: Waarom ik (26 jaar) nog altijd geloof dat de toekomst beter wordt (ondanks alle crises die ons teisteren)
More and more often I am asked how to deal with all the problems that seem unattainable, but which weigh us down mentally and emotionally and which you fear could affect your future.
When Céline Dion performs this song, it takes on a very special meaning when you hear about her story and her struggles. You all know her as a Canadian singer. But in recent years she has struggled with a rare disease (stiff person syndrome) that prevents her from singing. The one thing she loves most in life. It’s a heartbreaking story and a huge success (and PR stunt!) to see her perform at the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
In the documentary, you see Céline in battle mode. She is determined to overcome her illness. At the cost of many things. Herself and her health in the first place. And then, at the opening ceremony, we witness her triumph. Admirable, sure. But I missed something.
Is her life all about singing? Couldn’t Céline retire and find just as much love in another area of her life?
» Watch Céline Dion’s documentary on Prime Video to hear the full story.
Athletic focus
From the athletes, we get to see the one thing in their lives that goes really well. They are the best in the world at their sport. And we admire them for it. They inspire us. They delight us.
But we only see one aspect of their lives. How are they doing as a partner? What is their financial situation? How are they as friends?
In order to focus on just this one thing, they probably had to give up a lot of things in their life. What were these sacrifices?
And will they be back at the Olympics in 4 years' time? Or will we admire new ones in the same way? And was this edition just a highlight of an athlete’s life (which is still very impressive)? And what will they do after their sporting career?
Both the documentary and the Olympic Games inspire focus. Focus on one’s abilities, drive, performance and world dominance. Focus on the one thing you love the most.
But life is so complex and multi-dimensional. In real life, our focus is all over the place from work to family, from school to health. There are the successes, the failures and also the problems. And then there are the problems of others, national problems, problems on a global scale. All of this is constantly on our minds.
I can imagine why it is so good to watch the Olympic Games and experience an athlete’s focus for a moment.
Focus on your love
If you want to be the best you can be - whether as an athlete, singer or any of us - you can not afford to focus on it all all the time, let alone worry about the rest of the world. Both Céline and the Olympians need to focus on the one thing they love to do most in order to be their ultimate selves.
It's a matter of choice. A matter of focus.
» Could you afford to focus only on the one thing you love the most and forget everything else? Would you even know what that is?
In real life, without a coach, team and sponsors, you probably can’t. But what about the little moments in your life?
And what about the opposite: why do you allow yourself to be distracted by so many problems (your own and others)? Why are you choosing to fill your mind and heart with pain?
What if the problems we face help us to make the best of ourselves? An invitation, an opportunity to stand up and step into our own light. What if we are not meant to drown ourselves in problems or run away from them? What if problems are there to strengthen our love for this world, for this life?
» In my last letter, I asked: What things in life that you love are not on your weekly calendar?
» Has your weekly calendar changed since then?
And what if you read the song again?
As long as there is love… the song teaches. Whatever may come, it does not matter, as long as you know you have love. Or: the greater the love, the smaller the problems. As long as you can find love in things… and you can find it in so many things, you know. Certainly in other people. But there is love in everything that lives. That means you can tap into the love within yourself as long as you are alive, in every moment.
Wouldn’t it make sense then to take as much time as you can for what (or who) brings out that love in you? And while you are doing that, make your problems smaller.
Wouldn’t it be very helpful if everyone stopped focusing so much on all the problems in a negative and paralyzing way? If we started to see problems as the opportunity they are? And ourselves as the powerful beings that we are? And only focus on a problem when we can see it in that light? Thus helping you to be your best self, dare I say it, your Olympian self.
Regardless of what was, what is, or what may come.
The world needs that.
The world needs your love.
Written with a whole lot of love from me. And I hope you can see that. Be sure to let me know. I couldn’t think of another reason to write this than for you 🙏 Your thoughts would be much appreciated in a comment or reply.
Would you like to continue this conversation? Or start this conversation with your audience or team? Book me as a facilitator or speaker for your event or meeting. Send me a message at future@marleen-mulder.nl or visit my (all Dutch) website marleen-mulder.nl.
Much love,
Marleen