How to Bounce Back After Life Smashes You in the Face
It’s my first day back in the office after being in Vancouver to support our favorite Olympic female snowboarders. At one of the events, I learned a happiness lesson I’ll never forget:
No matter how bruised your ego (or even your body) might be, find a reason to SMILE.
There were plenty of inspiring happenings last week-skier Lindsey Vonn pushing through an injury to win gold, seeing two American gals (Hannah Teter and Kelly Clark) on the women’s halfpipe medal podium, skier (and underwear designer!) Julia Mancuso nabbing silver in both the women’s downhill and super-combined.
But the most inspiring thing I saw at the games came not from an athlete who won, but one who lost: snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler. She had been getting a ton of media attention these last few months-for her recent marriage, her cute outerwear and clothing line for Oakley-and also for this kick-a** trick she developed called the Crippler 720.
Everyone knew she had to go big to get a medal at these Olympics, and she did-but she crashed doing it. And it was a pretty spectacular crash (fast forward to about 5:00 to see it). We all sat there hushed in the stands hushed, waiting to see A.) if she could get up after that, and B.) how she’d react.
And do you know what the girl did? She stood up, brushed herself off and flashed a big, bright, genuine grin. Sure, a medal would’ve been nice (it coulda been three Americans up on the podium instead of two!), but that smile said it all: I love what I do; I’m grateful for the opportunity; and, I’m still pretty awesome.
It’s a mantra we should all try to keep in mind when life knocks us down!
Have you ever had to bounce back from a big life crash? How did you dust yourself off and keep going?
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