This past weekend I had the most amazing opportunity: I was asked to coach some local kiddos at the State Championship Special Olympics for Track and Field.
Everyone always preaches about being a good friend, always lending a hand, keeping a smile on your face, and winning and losing gracefully, but few people actually live their lives to such ideals. The children I coached this weekend were perfect role models.
Over the three days I saw so many incredible things and felt truly blessed to be a part of it. At one point I witnessed the young boy who had taken the gold in the 100m dash turn to the kids on either side of him and shaker their hands saying "GREAT JOB" as they received their medals. He said it from the heart, with true enthusiasm. How many times in our own lives have we congratulated someone, but were so caught up in how well we had personally done that we did not mean it, or worse, never said it at all.
Later in the weekend I saw a 19 year old man turn to the 17 year old girl who had beat him in the 25m wheelchair race and give her a high-five while telling his mom "first or second, doesn't really matter, we're all winners and that's what matters." It was beautiful. What was more beautiful is that he meant it too.
Throughout the weekend, events like these were common. So although it was I who was coaching them, I know I gained more from having them around, then they did having me.
the following video has sound, so turn it on before you watch:
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