The starter’s pistol fires and a 400-meter sprint trial is under way in the Barcelona Stadium during the 1992 Olympic Games. One of the sprinters grabs the back of his leg in obvious pain. He takes a few excruciating steps in his lane to avoid falling into the path of an oncoming sprinter before collapsing to the track. The world can see his despair, the cruel realization that despite his hard work and dedication his dreams have been crushed. The race has ended, but Derek Remond finds the fortitude to rise and begin to hobble to the finish line.
A middle-aged man in shorts and t-shirt comes to him. After recognizing that it is father, Derek leans heavily on him as they cross finish line together. Everyone in the stadium is standing and cheering. Tears stream down the faces of people around the world.
Moments of greatness like this are the true beauty of life when dreams, dedication and purpose come together. Not everyone will create the cure for cancer or have an entire stadium cheering and standing in ovation, but everyone has the potential for both moments of personal greatness and showing up to witness, encourage, support and/or love another in their moment. Derek’s father illustrated that the showing up to support another may be the greatest expression of love.
This weekend I watched “Brittany Runs a Marathon.” I was expecting a fluff movie, but what I found was a reminder of greatness and what it means to show up for another person’s moment. This movie beautifully illustrates how easy it is to believe that you are not enough or loveable because of the way you look or your education or where you grew up or the number of likes on a social media post or any number of lies that that are replayed by the monkey brain until it becomes true.
Everyday each one of us has opportunity to be a part of greatness. The first step is to recognize it. Those moments when you feel like every receptor in your body is alive and tingling is greatness. Hearing piece of music or seeing a performance that moves you to tears is greatness. The look of pure joy in a friend or loved one’s eyes when they see that you have shown up for their important moment is greatness.
Where have you recently achieved greatness or witnessed the greatness of another?
The Yoga Cowgirl 
Recent greatness? Hmmmm …. I always marvel at the giving nature of some people. The people who truly go out of their way to help someone.
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Yes!
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Love that movie! I even cried a little during the movie. Yes, we need more stories like hers. I loved that the movie was based on a true story.
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Yes! It had me sobbing. It was so real and I appreciated the rawness of how women who are not “desirable” are treated and then start to believe that “unloveable” shit.
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Right! I love it when I can find a good movie like that one. I have seen it a few times. I loved her attitude and watching her accomplish her goal and the friends she made…just a great movie…sigh.
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Just had a recommendation for Nomad Land on Hulu!
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I saw the preview! Yes, going to check that one out. Oh and check out Herself…I think it is an Irish movie.
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Personal greatness–I see it all the time. (When I remember to look and think of it this way.) One of my friends has been experiencing so much internal pain as she process repressed emotions from childhood. As of yesterday it appears she has “broken through” into a more peaceful encompassing space. Now that is greatness. Not a greatness that most people would laud, but I think it was amazing that she had the courage to stick with her pain until it transformed.
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That is amazing greatness. Emotional pain and steeping out of false narratives keeps so many people stuck. And your greatness is witnessing the pain and holding a safe space for her vulnerability. GOLD STAR to all!!!!
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This is such a good post. And a reminder to see greatness in the smallest of victories.
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Thank you!
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I can relate deeply to the perseverance and greatness uncovered in running. I started running and competing before my divorce ten years ago but found racing and training my solace to get through the pain. Almost two years ago when I experienced a spiritual awakening after releasing deeply held and repressed trauma, I found shamanic healing which has profoundly changed my life. Now my life makes sense, I feel my worth and I love myself more than at any other time in my life. Moments 9f greatness are found within and uncovered by ourselves. Doing the work, digging deep. Inner healing. It’s all available, it’s an inside job😉
Great post Sarah as you recounted these moments of triumph. I really needed to read this today and be reminded of how far I have come. Thank you🙏
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Thank you for sharing your greatness.
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Thank you for providing the opportunity to share my friend ❤
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My first thought was of the linemen and other utility workers who brought our state back from the brink. In my book, there’s no one greater than a lineman working 18 or 24 hour shifts after an ice storm (or a hurricane) in isolation, willing to do the work without recognition in order to serve the community.
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Yes! Please remind me, are you in Texas? I am so grateful our lines held with all the ice we had.
Now, I have to go listen to Glen Campbell’s Linemen for the County.
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Yep. I’m in Galveston County, south of Houston. 99% of our county was without heat and water for… ummm… it seems like forever, but it was “just” three days. By yesterday, I was working in jeans and a tee shirt; everyone has power now, the water’s mostly back, and it was 74 degrees!
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Wow! Glad you are on the other side! What a mess, I am so sorry Texas suffered so.
Today was also our first day at/over 70 in Tennessee.
Now having to play Glen Campbell’s Galveston as well!
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As one friend said in seriousness, during this pandemic for her just getting up in the morning is success. That resonated with me, and has made me more aware of that small victories are examples of greatness that often go unnoticed.
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Yes! Many days greatness is doing the best you can in the face of overwhelm.
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They’re doing mass-vaccination clinics here and last week they did them despite the cold miserable rain. Great=workers in cold rain directing traffic, etc. Also thanks for the good movie recommendation. Looks interesting.
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It is a good movie. Hope it is not too “chick” for you, but it could win you points with the wife.
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