Have You Lost That Olympic Smile?

"London 2012", "personal development"July 23rd 2012, and I was wending my way to London, to the Olympic Stadium as it happens. All well and good, but why would I choose to write about it on July 23rd 2013..?

Excitement, enthusiasm, extra mileage that’s why!

I went up to see a technical rehearsal of the opening ceremony, I’d got a ticket because my brother was performing in the show, in the NHS section. He hadn’t told me anything about it, in keeping with the secrecy of it all, but he had spent months rehearsing.

I didn’t quite know what to expect, but the atmosphere as I arrived was easy to describe – excitement. To get the first glimpses of the huge buildings and the size of the Olympic Park really brought home the scale of the thing.

I had got to see the Olympic flame on its’ tour of Britain, and the swell of anticipation had lifted ever upwards. As a fan of the Olympics since 1976, there was no doubt now that London 2012 would be a biggie.

The ceremony started in an odd way, I’d call it subdued, with scenes of farmland and cricket matches. It was when the structured sections began, that the hairs began to rise, and it was such a thrill to see my brother doing his thing as one of the throng.

There were some real spine tingling moments, and having had this early peek of the show, I knew what everyone else had to come. When the show went ahead on the Friday, the country said a collective ‘WOW’, and that lasted for the whole of the 2 weeks of the Games.

It then carried on to the Paralympics, and what I found the most surprising was that people seemed to allow themselves to be happy. Plenty of comments along the lines of ‘I hate sport, but what a great Olympics!’

The feel good factor was palpable, and the British cynicism that it would return straight back to misery and gloom afterwards was not as loud as it might have been.

I think it carried on right to this summer, with more sporting success to fuel the flames, Andy Murray winning Wimbledon, and a new royal baby being born.

Excitement, enthusiasm, extra mileage!

The excitement of that summer, for my brother taking part, for me watching ( I particularly enjoyed my trip to see the Beach Volleyball), and for most of the country.
"personal development", "Gordon Bryan"

Enthusiasm that grew for the event, and enthusiasm to do things that we enjoy, without feeling guilty about it.

Extra mileage, because that feel good factor doesn’t have to be consigned to the history of the London 2012 Games. Why not make it a permanent part of your life? I’ve been writing along those lines for many many years, so really, why not?

Take the choice to be enthusiastic about what you do. If you’d rather be doing something else, set plans in place and take action towards it.

You don’t have to run or jump to get on board, it’s a choice of attitude, and it’s a choice available to all of us. Allow yourself to be happy!

Ok, do let me know what you think in the comments below, and do feel free to like, share, tweet etc.

‘Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
P.S. If you fancy reading my many other posts on the subject, you can find then via this London 2012 link
P.P.S. One of them you’ll find there is about the ceremony – Goal Achievement – Olympic Show And Tell!

Do leave a comment!

Leave a Reply to Sue X

20 Comments

  • What a great post! Attitude is so important, isn’t it. It can make all the difference between “I can” and “I can’t.” and I love how you used the Olympics to illustrate the point. Great post. I shared it.

    • Hi Deanna,
      yes, I’ve written over many years that attitude is one of the 4 magic words beginning with ‘A’. It was a magical time for me, and my Olympic smile is going strong!
      Cheers,
      Gordon

    • Hi Dawn,
      I’ve found it’s a key element to improving lives, and it can be done surprisingly easily! Reminders can help, I know they do for me, so the thought of this day last year for me at the opening ceremony has had me beaming!
      cheers, Gordon

  • Hello Gordon,
    I have read your post and share your optimism. The Olympics do inspire us and bring a sense of excitement. I’m enthused to be part of the Quick Start Challenge on Face Book.
    Keep up the good work!
    Merle

    • Hi Carol,
      I was thrilled as my brother only had a limited amount to use, and it was so exciting to me to go the whole park as well as the stadium! Aren’t good memories great to bring a smile when we need it!
      cheers,
      Gordon

    • I describe it in my own memories as magical, and that’s pretty much the way I felt at the time too! Rio will have its own unique flavour – let’s hope the civil problems are more settled by then!
      Cheers,
      Gordon

    • Hi Michelle,
      I loved it! Not just because I’ve loved the Olympics for nearly 40 years, but the whole feeling around the country was a happy one!
      cheers,
      Gordon

  • The Olympic Games were pitched to us as an amazing way to reboot Britain. The other week, the BBC reported that the games had raised a sum of money equivalent to about £130 per person in the UK. That’s not a great deal and we have been deluded by Government as to the value of the games. To show any dissent is to be considered strange.

    Hubris without value is not the stuff of champions. I do agree however that we need to keep cheerful.

    • Hi Pete,
      The legacy of any Olympics is discussed over and over – with little benefit seen by many previous Games except to the International Olympic Commmittee! As for the less tangible happiness factor, that was a surprise to a lot of people, and had people feeling genuinely happy – now that *does* carry value to a society,
      cheers,
      Gordon

  • Great post and a great look back. I think the majority of the UK have caught the fitness/sports bug; I see it in my local pool where I swim regularly, in the amount of runners and cyclists everywhere and especially the local park where the children of all ages are actively involved in sports.

    • Hi Sue,
      Always hard to quantify these things, and there has been hoo ha both befroe and after about funding being taken away from grass roots sport to funds the Games. I know I’ve tried to get into 3 sports since though!
      cheers,
      Gordon