Putting winning in perspective

» Posted on Jan 9, 2010 in Blog | Comments Off on Putting winning in perspective

I had a dream a few days ago that stayed with me. I’m not sure why I dreamed about this but years ago I had a student who had a disease that made him look like a little (about four feet tall with short legs) old man when he was sixteen. I knew his life expectancy wasn’t long and he had lots of health problems. But he was such an inspiration to me and everyone around him.

One year at the state games for Special Olympics in Oklahoma (I was a coach for 18 years), he was determined to do the 400 meter walk although it was hot and humid. He didn’t sweat so being in hot weather was hard for him. When his event was called, he went to the starting line and began his trek. Not a third a way around the track, he began to have trouble because of the heat and not being able to sweat. A volunteer walked with him, keeping cold cloths on his head and neck. He had to rest periodically, but he was determined to finish the race. He did a long time after everyone else, and when he walked across the finish line, he walked across to a standing ovation. He showed the crowd at the stadium what a true winner was that day. He proudly displayed his ribbon the rest of the time we were there. Every competitor got a place ribbon depending on where they came in. It didn’t bother him that he was last. He finished the race. That was his dream and goal.

What was unusual about the dream was that I was on Letterman (by accident and that’s a whole different blog) and ended up telling this story. Don’t ask me why. I don’t know. But the dream was so clear that I remembered it vividly this morning.

What unusual dream have you had?