Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
(My Dear Friends, If you read the motivator and are not moved to make a comment, just give it a bump to keep it current. Thank you.)
Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
Good Morning, Guys,
(I had hoped this MMMM would be posted on the new forum, but alas, not to be. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
JP will lick this thing yet. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] )
Well, the Olympics are now history. For this viewer the only truly Olympian aspect of these games was the number of commercials. Each viewer should get a gold medal for patience and endurance. Some of the commercials were quite clever, but lost their luster after the 50th viewing. My personal favorite had a group of Chevys on the mountaintops beeping out the Olympic theme with their horns.
There is much in the news to lament the fact that the games have somehow lost their impact, with the pundits puzzling over what the problem might be and quizzing each other as to how to bring back the excitement. In my own humble opinion, the Olympics have been on a downhill slide over the last few decades, since they progressively became the games of the big names and the professionals. They are no longer the games of the young man or woman who worked in their garage or basement, or honed their skills in the high school gym or at the Y. They are the venue of the highly trained professional athlete with all the media hype and endorsement contracts that can be thrown at them. Yes, some will say, hey other countries have been training their athletes as professionals for years. I say, sure, but what ever happened to “the glory of sport.” There were more “hot dogs” and “poor sports” in this Olympics than I can ever remember, and I have been watching them for half a century. For me there were very few breathtaking moments, which prompted my foray into this week’s Motivator. And so, here is my take on those special moments, which I call….
Take Your Breath Away
There are things in this world that we consider to be of great beauty or emotional impact and we use the expression, “it’s takes your breath away.” The radiance of a sunset; the miracle of a baby being born; the cathedral like stillness of a forest at dawn; these are all contenders. The final movement of the Mahler Third Symphony has always done it for me and I hope that each of you have your own special moments in time that do, indeed, take your breath away.
Unfortunately, there are quite a few things in this world that can adversely take your breath away. How many of you have friends that get winded just climbing a flight of stairs or making a quick dash across the street. I know more than a few smokers who just can’t do anything without losing their breath. My own father died from his smoking habit, succumbing to emphysema at the age of 58.
Recently I was made aware, by a friend, of a news story of a young man who died of asphyxiation while trying to get a high by choking himself. Teens and pre-teens are playing what is called “the game” in which they cut off their air supply for a brief high that they can experience. In this particular story a mother found her 12-year old son in his bedroom with his belt around his neck. He had passed out while playing “the game” but there was no one around to remove the belt. There was no one there to let the air back in and let him experience his high. He died, alone. How excruciatingly sad and tragic that this young man could find nothing in his life, nothing of beauty, nothing inspiring, nothing that would take his breath away, but this senseless game.
If there is nothing else you will do this week, I urge you to do something that will literally take your breath away. Run, swim or go for a hike. Put your body through a good workout. Play with the kids. Lend someone a hand. Do something positive for yourself and for your life that will get you breathing hard and remind you of that wonderful feeling of having your breath taken away. Experience that one of a kind sensation of being alive.
And while you’re at it, seek a measure of beauty in your life. Store up a little inspiration for the future, whatever form it may take. View a sunrise, watch a snowfall, listen to a good piece of music. Do something that you can carry with you as a mental image that will lift you in the down times and provide a little solace when the going gets rough. Then let it wash over you like a wave and for now and in the future, continue to take your breath away.
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
Agreed, I wish it could have been up on the new forum as well. Thanks for posting it though... Great post as usual! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
Ah what you doing to me man thats so sad I have tears in my eyes yet it makes you contemplate the beauty of just living and being.
We take so much for granted around us like Keith said the other day when he had a few moments he admired the architecture around him. We all search for Nirvana and forget to realise Nirvana is around us all the while we just dont always see it!
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
Mahler thats such an amzing modivator. I see enough sorrow in my days at work that I have to fight inside not to let it get to me. It makes you appreciate what you have and what you don't have, makes you relize time can be cut very short and to live and love everything and everyone around you. I have my boys with me for two days before I am back at work again and won't see them for a few days. So I carry their pictures with me in my pocket to keep them close. I am giving up a few gym workouts to be home with them , but hey I lifted a whole lot of heavy pts this week and I still have all my weights here so I'm hitting the workout after they go to bed. Thanks Mahler for you touching words [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
The olympics have lost their luster for me at least. It seems that the power/strength/speed games have become all about who can dope and not get caught.
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
Great motivator as always.
I did my first FL3 workout today. It DEFINATELY took my breath away!
Now more seriously.. we finally have snow here - it is so refreshing to see everything looking wintery and white - it's worth the cold temperatures to get rid of the brown for a few days!
Here's a supporting quote...
"The sight of anything extremely beautiful, in nature or in art, brings back the memory of what one loves, with the speed of lightning. That is,... all that is beautiful and sublime and the world takes part in the beauty of what one loves, and this unexpected glimpse of happiness immediately fills the eyes with tears. This is how love of the beautiful and love give each other life." Stendhal
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
Thanks, Mahler. A great motivator, as always.
For the past month I've been setting my alarm clock 30 minutes earlier, so my dog and I can walk to the park about a mile from my house. There's a large neo-classical pavilion where we sit with the sun rising behind us to watch the Rockies glow on the horizon.
It's far better than any cup of coffee I've ever had.
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
John, while I understand where you're coming from about the Olympics, for every "hot dogger" and "whiner" and "pro sports type" at the Olympics, there are still stories of hard work, sacrifice and courage ... and good will. My Olympic moments of note (and I will confess some Canadian bias here): the handing of a ski pole by a Norwegian official to a Canadian skier allowing her and her teammate to finish in the medals and thereby denying the Norwegian skiers a medal; Clara Hughes winning the 5000m long-track speed skating gold and collapsing at the finish line having given it her all ... and then turning around and draining her own bank account to give $10K of her own money (not Olympic bonus $ - Cdn athletes don't get such things) to international kids' charity; Cindy Klassen's 5 medals, a Canadian record; Brad Gushue's tearful tribute to his Mom (who is undergoing cancer treatment in Newfoundland) after winning curling gold; the Chinese pairs skaters who won silver after a horrific fall and injury to the woman ... I could go on. The defeat of the Canadian mens' hockey team, in my view, forced the Canadian media at least to focus attention on these stories, the ones that exemplify the Olympic spirit.
As for a take-your-breath-away moment, mine occurs at about 11PM and 7AM everyday. I have a ritual going back to the birth of my children - I always give them a kiss before I go to bed and before I go to work. Virtually nothing interferes with that ritual. It's my time to "take a deep breath" and to know how important they are to me. It's a physical embodiment of my deep connection to them.
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
LD thats so important. I have something special I say to each of my boys before I put them to bed and everytime I have to leave them to go to work. Its different for each of them, drives home how important they are and how much they mean to me.. Nice to hear K court.they will never forget that.
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
Rob,
The Olympics was not to have been the thrust of my motivator, but, I see your point. I did not set out to say that there were no special moments (and you point out some of my favorites), only that the hot dogs and poor sports got more than their fair share of the media attention, even before the games began. And, truth to tell, there simply seemed to be more of those hot dogs and poor sports this year. The real killer for me is that making it an almost entirely professional venue has ruined it, at least for me it has. It just isn't that special anymore. I know the opinions will be split on this one but that's the way I feel.
It does my heart good, though, to hear that you are making those breath taking moments with your children.
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
Nice thoughts John. I know its something I've been trying to do more since I moved to the country. Just driving to the station in the morning I'll notice the mists over the paddocks and just take it in. A couple of days ago on the way home I looked out the window and there was a wedge tailed eagle by the side of the tracks (would be the same as just spotting a bald headed eagle in the states just out of nowhere). Even this morning just spotted a fox jumping through the fence near the tracks.
Theres a lot of incredible things around us if we take the time to appreciate them.
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
This motivator took my breath away.
On a related note, an acquaintaince of mine through a friend sent his own life spiraling down hill for a temporary high as well last year- experimentation with what was called a 'california high' that required a sudden blow to deflate and forcefully exhale all the air in your lungs. Dont know exactly how it works, but the kid ended up with some internal injury, couldnt compete in a wrestling tournament and lost his chance at a full ride to his school of choice. Although bummed, he did make him self go to community college in the area, but now its 2nd semester and i dont think hes still attending. There were certainly some more complications, but they were all interelated.
Thanks Mahler.
Also, thanks JP for the forums, cant imagine how i got by a even a few weeks with out them!
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
I guess I could work on getting more excited about things in life. It's been a while since I've done anything to literally take my breath away. Thanks for the post, Mahler.
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
Thanks, as always, John.
As you know, that story hit especially close to home for me, although I wasn't the one that originally brought it to your attention. The boy in question is from the same town that I live in, and my wife's brother used to go out with his aunt.
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
Blair,
The image of that 12 year old lying alone in his room with a belt around his neck had haunted me ever since I heard the story. No mother should ever come upon such a scene.
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
Jenn, I just have SO much respect for what you and your colleagues do day in and day out. My desk-bound accomplishments pale to insignficance in comparison. Hats off to you. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Re: Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
For the most part it is a sad world that we live in. I too work in a profession where I see death or debilitating disease on an almost daily basis, yet there is still much beauty in the world and much to be grateful for IF we look for it. Great post once again John,sad but thought provoking. [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]
Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 104 – Take Your Breath Away
Linear Mode
