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Author/Athlete/Professional
Speaker "Think of yourself as an athlete. I guarantee you it will change the way you walk, the way you work, and the decisions you make about leadership, teamwork, and success."- MBN |
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Everywhere I go, I ask women: “Do you think of yourself as an athlete?” “Well, I work out,” they say. Or, “I'm into fitness.” “I try to stay in shape.” “I used to be a tomboy.” “I'm athletic, but not an athlete.” “No, because I'm not very fast.” Even today, when more women play sports than ever before, few women say “Yes, I am an athlete.” Why do I care? Because athletes walk with pride. They try new things. They persist in the face of doubt and defeat. According to research I conducted for Embracing Victory, self-identified athletes are more likely than others to feel bold and assertive, to enjoy competing, and to expect success. “Athlete” is a powerful word. The dictionary says an athlete is “trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.” “Trained or skilled” doesn't mean gold medals. Athletes don't have to win or even compete. Ordinary people who skate or snowboard or play junior varsity softball qualify. One sixty-year-old who told me she's not an athlete chases soccer balls like a lunatic: lunging, laughing, then limping home grass-stained and exhausted and euphoric. The way I see it, this counts. Let me introduce myself: I am an athlete. Swimming races with Mom before kindergarten. Backyard baseball with big brother until Little League said “no girls.” High school field hockey, lacrosse, tennis, volleyball, then the best sport -- basketball -- through college and the pros. Now golf, rowing, cycling, and a racing dive back into the cool waters of my first sport, swimming. But even if some day I wake up too sick or disabled to move, I'll still be an athlete. It's part of my identity, as cherished as “woman” and “writer.” It's an attitude that affects everything I do: how I treat my body, how I seek success. It's also a way of life that lifts me and carries me through all my disappointments. When my knee aches; when my heart breaks; when my writing's bad: I simply remember this promising thing -- I am an athlete -- and then I don't feel so sad. Welcome to Oxygen's first edition of WeSweat.com. This column is for people who enjoy asking big questions, like: Are we athletes? Are women winning yet? Why do sports matter? I figured this was a good place to start: with our bodies, our identities. I've got ideas for other columns (fathers, friendships, femininity, fans, money, injuries, coaches, courage, current events, book reviews, interviews, lots more), and I also want to respond to you: what intrigues you, what worries you, what you care passionately about. Write to me anytime, about anything. Meanwhile: are you an athlete? How and when did you decide that? I'd love to know. If you don't feel like an athlete: Go for a walk, in your neighborhood or in your mind. Feel your thigh muscles carrying you forward, transporting you somewhere. Where? Who knows? Try saying, I am an athlete. See where it takes you. Report back.
To contact Mariah about her presentations, call 703/276-8323 or write to her at Mariah@MariahBurtonNelson.com Home © 2000-2002
Mariah Burton Nelson 2002
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Are you an Athlete?