I had lunch at McAlister's today and had a sort of epiphany. I noticed a girl across the room at a table by herself (like I was, but with a laptop instead of a book) who, after she received her food from the waiter, closed her eyes and bowed her head in prayer with her hands together, touching her forehead. I watched as she sat there in silence for about 30 seconds, and I realized something about praying over food that I never have before: it primarily serves as a reminder to be thankful.
I admit that I've always thought praying before eating was a little silly. I didn't see the point. It didn't make sense to thank someone who wasn't there. I've never really been a big fan of prayer in general, because I never felt like it held any direct effect. That's not to say that I don't appreciate people telling me they'll pray for me when I'm having a hard time. In doing so, they are basically telling me they care, that they will be thinking of me, and that gives me comfort. Praying over food, however, doesn't have the same connotation. It's very much in the moment and directed at inanimate objects.
The problem with my old view is that the nature of prayer really has nothing to do with direct effect, or any effect, for that matter. It's all about intention. What I realized today is that it's not about the subject of the prayer. It's about having a sense of gratefulness. It's about reminding yourself to appreciate what you have. It's an opportunity for brief meditation on contentment. Prayer is introspective.
Seeing that girl pray in silence at the restaurant for no one but herself helped me realize that it really is about inner reflection and peacefulness. Especially if one lives a very busy life and has difficulty finding time to relax, taking 30 seconds before each meal to ruminate on gratitude can work wonders for overall contentment. I am definitely guilty of taking the little things for granted and forgetting that I have A LOT to be thankful for. Especially since I'm going through a rough time right now, it is sometimes hard to concentrate on what is good in my life; I sometimes forget to appreciate all that I have. I am going to start practicing everyday gratitude by taking a moment before each meal to briefly remind myself that my food is a gift, and in that moment of thanks, I will recognize other parts of my life that deserve appreciation.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Let's watch the Olympics, just for kicks
(pun intended)
NBC didn't cover any taekwondo on their main channel, so I had to go online to watch it. We won two bronzes, one for Terrence Jennings, who got into the sport by watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and one for Paige McPherson. Great Britain also won with a gold for Jade Jones! I'm glad the British have won lots of medals at these Olympics--it's always nice to see the host country do well, and they very often do since they have home-field/court/ring/track/etc. advantage.
I've really enjoyed Mary Carillo's coverage of these Olympics. Her interviews with athletes are always well-done, and her specials on London and the U.K. (about topics such as Welsh traditions and Shakespeare) were interesting and fun. I guess they have the best sports journalists go out into the field to interact with people and leave the odd ones (Bob Costas) in the studio.
A few words on Usain Bolt: He is certainly impressive, but I don't like him. He's unquestionably the greatest sprinter of all time, winning both the 100m and 200m in 2 consecutive Olympics (as well as some relays), but he's also very full of himself. He can't seem to stop talking about how great he is, and even after he won the 4x100m relay with the Jamaican team, he said, "I'm very happy with myself," as if his teammates didn't have much to do with it. (Contrast that with the winning US women's 4x100m relay team, who couldn't stop saying how much they loved each other.) I might also add that in a couple of his races, he actually slowed down on the last few steps when he knew he had it won. In a long distance run, that can make sense because you're exhausted to point of collapsing, but in sprinting, it's just pure arrogance. It shows that Usain doesn't care as much about doing his best as he does about winning. A true sportsman always tries his best and gives it his all, whether or not he's in the lead. Sports, especially the Olympics, are about showing people what you're made of, not simply winning every contest. The media's obsessive coverage of him also annoys me because it overshadows more inspiring athletes like Ashton Eaton, the decathlon gold medal winner.
NBC didn't cover any taekwondo on their main channel, so I had to go online to watch it. We won two bronzes, one for Terrence Jennings, who got into the sport by watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and one for Paige McPherson. Great Britain also won with a gold for Jade Jones! I'm glad the British have won lots of medals at these Olympics--it's always nice to see the host country do well, and they very often do since they have home-field/court/ring/track/etc. advantage.
I've really enjoyed Mary Carillo's coverage of these Olympics. Her interviews with athletes are always well-done, and her specials on London and the U.K. (about topics such as Welsh traditions and Shakespeare) were interesting and fun. I guess they have the best sports journalists go out into the field to interact with people and leave the odd ones (Bob Costas) in the studio.
A few words on Usain Bolt: He is certainly impressive, but I don't like him. He's unquestionably the greatest sprinter of all time, winning both the 100m and 200m in 2 consecutive Olympics (as well as some relays), but he's also very full of himself. He can't seem to stop talking about how great he is, and even after he won the 4x100m relay with the Jamaican team, he said, "I'm very happy with myself," as if his teammates didn't have much to do with it. (Contrast that with the winning US women's 4x100m relay team, who couldn't stop saying how much they loved each other.) I might also add that in a couple of his races, he actually slowed down on the last few steps when he knew he had it won. In a long distance run, that can make sense because you're exhausted to point of collapsing, but in sprinting, it's just pure arrogance. It shows that Usain doesn't care as much about doing his best as he does about winning. A true sportsman always tries his best and gives it his all, whether or not he's in the lead. Sports, especially the Olympics, are about showing people what you're made of, not simply winning every contest. The media's obsessive coverage of him also annoys me because it overshadows more inspiring athletes like Ashton Eaton, the decathlon gold medal winner.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Some sports really know how to put on a show
Synchronized swimming is fun to watch. Similar to figure skating, it obviously takes tremendous athleticism and skill, but the athletes try to come up with choreography and artistry that goes well with their music and provides entertainment for the crowd. You get everything from Great Britain's Peter Pan theme to Australia's AC/DC routine. What really gets me is how much time they spend underwater. It seems like they're holding their breath for at least half of their performance (they probably are). It's too bad that the US isn't usually in contention for a medal.
Then there's rhythmic gymnastics, one of the strangest sports ever. It really seems like more of a dance competition to me. Ballet is not a sport (though it does require athleticism), so I'm kind of at a loss for why this would be considered differently... unless you look at it as the "sport form" of dance, emphasizing the athleticism and slightly reducing the artistry. The routines look like dance exercises with specifically required props--ribbons, rope, hoops, clubs, and bouncy balls. Maybe the props are the key--having to dance around while concentrating on a prop (that they have to keep in constant motion) requires expert hand-eye coordination, so it's kinda like table tennis in that sense... I dunno. It's definitely bizarre, but also fascinating. (The US doesn't have a full team competing.)
There was a devastating crash between South Africa and Kenya in the 4x400m relay prelim, preventing South African Oscar Pistorius from even getting a chance to run his leg. Needless to say, it dashed the hopes of Pistorius and his team... at first. Their country filed a formal protest because the Kenyan runner suddenly changed direction right in front of the South African, causing them both to fall. Well I'm definitely glad they did so, because the committee allowed them to compete in the final, making Pistorius the first double amputee to compete in an Olympic (non-Paralympic) final. So cool!
Quite a few crashes occurred in BMX racing, as well, but that's actually the norm. Because of all the falls, there's a point system with multiple races to determine who advances in the competition, so you're not automatically out of it if you crash once. The exciting, fast-paced races are so enthralling that once the bikers come out of the gate, it's impossible for me to pull my eyes from the screen. It's BMX-treme!
Then there's rhythmic gymnastics, one of the strangest sports ever. It really seems like more of a dance competition to me. Ballet is not a sport (though it does require athleticism), so I'm kind of at a loss for why this would be considered differently... unless you look at it as the "sport form" of dance, emphasizing the athleticism and slightly reducing the artistry. The routines look like dance exercises with specifically required props--ribbons, rope, hoops, clubs, and bouncy balls. Maybe the props are the key--having to dance around while concentrating on a prop (that they have to keep in constant motion) requires expert hand-eye coordination, so it's kinda like table tennis in that sense... I dunno. It's definitely bizarre, but also fascinating. (The US doesn't have a full team competing.)
There was a devastating crash between South Africa and Kenya in the 4x400m relay prelim, preventing South African Oscar Pistorius from even getting a chance to run his leg. Needless to say, it dashed the hopes of Pistorius and his team... at first. Their country filed a formal protest because the Kenyan runner suddenly changed direction right in front of the South African, causing them both to fall. Well I'm definitely glad they did so, because the committee allowed them to compete in the final, making Pistorius the first double amputee to compete in an Olympic (non-Paralympic) final. So cool!
Quite a few crashes occurred in BMX racing, as well, but that's actually the norm. Because of all the falls, there's a point system with multiple races to determine who advances in the competition, so you're not automatically out of it if you crash once. The exciting, fast-paced races are so enthralling that once the bikers come out of the gate, it's impossible for me to pull my eyes from the screen. It's BMX-treme!
Greatest athletes in the world
Americans Ashton Eaton and Trey Hardee won gold and silver in the decathlon, so we've got the world's top 2 greatest overall athletes. It was pretty obvious by the 7th event that those two would be at the top, but I was pulling for Hardee to win because he's the better thrower (shot put, discus, javelin). Eaton's discus throwing, in particular, was less than impressive. :P He more than made up for it, however, in the running and jumping events to come through with gold. Watching the two of them compete makes me miss going to track meets in high school to throw shot and disc. I actually know what it's like to be in the ring, so watching US athletes compete in that environment against the best in the world is a real treat.
Another great thing about the decathlon: the athletes are all very civil and friendly to each other. They go through the experience of competing in 10 events together over 2 days, growing accustomed to each other and even sometimes getting to know each other. After the last event, the 1500m run, many of them hugged and patted each others' backs, sharing the accomplishment of making it through to the end. The endurance required to complete that journey, along with the versatility required to do well in it, sets the decathlon apart from all other events in the Olympics. That's why I love it so much.
To top it all off, this year is the 100th anniversary of the decathlon, which was first won in 1912 by American (and Oklahoman) Jim Thorpe. How fitting, then, that Ashton Eaton set a world record this year at the US Olympics trials. Having an outstanding decathlon tradition is something the US can be extremely proud of. Here's a great article about Eaton's potential legacy to the sport.
Another great thing about the decathlon: the athletes are all very civil and friendly to each other. They go through the experience of competing in 10 events together over 2 days, growing accustomed to each other and even sometimes getting to know each other. After the last event, the 1500m run, many of them hugged and patted each others' backs, sharing the accomplishment of making it through to the end. The endurance required to complete that journey, along with the versatility required to do well in it, sets the decathlon apart from all other events in the Olympics. That's why I love it so much.
To top it all off, this year is the 100th anniversary of the decathlon, which was first won in 1912 by American (and Oklahoman) Jim Thorpe. How fitting, then, that Ashton Eaton set a world record this year at the US Olympics trials. Having an outstanding decathlon tradition is something the US can be extremely proud of. Here's a great article about Eaton's potential legacy to the sport.
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