From Obscurity to Ovation. From not many knowing who you are to not many NOT knowing who you are. From leaving her household with a little-known name to becoming a household name. From “I have a dream” to “I think I’m dreaming”.
Gabrielle Christina Victoria Douglas is her name and those who know her best prefer to call her “Gabby”. She just secured herself firmly in the record books of becoming the first African American woman to win goal in the Olympic Artistic Gymnast Individual All-Around Competition. Yes her story is an inspiring one because it embodies the three absolutely necessary components and elements that make any story inspiring, which are the Dream/Goal, the Struggle/Adversity and the Triumphant Victory.
To the untrained eyes of the cheering audience her performance at times may have appeared to be one that was executed with ease and little effort, but make no mistake about it, this was made possible only by the countless hours invested in advance when no audience was watching and no voices where cheering.
I truly believe that her podium composure exhibited the night of August 2, 2012 inLondon,Englandundoubtedly came from the realization of a déjà vu moment of her life long dream. I’m sure she would say that she’s been there before hundreds of times in her dreams and to finally see it in five dimensional, live view makes all the hard work worth it. A dream that was ignited and given promise not-so-long ago by the inspiration of her childhood Olympic Hero Dominique Dawes. This serves as a definitive example that Inspiration begets and inspires Inspiration.
Don’t let the absence of tears during her national anthem ceremony and medal presentation lesson your belief in her patriotism and level of genuine joy for her accomplishment and being honored in that moment. For I’m sure she can passionately tell you about the countless hours spent weeping and shedding tears of stress and strain behind closed doors wondering if her moment would ever come. Yes I know you Gabby. I know your battle all too well.
The struggle for the gold must have been tough but the realization of finally achieving it must have been a bit anticlimactic in the wake of your many victories along the way. You hung in there during those quiet nights when all was gone and you were left alone to wrestle with your biggest enemy which turned out to be your “inner-me”. You stayed the course even when the woman in the mirror doubted whether it was all possible and worth it. You even fought through that quiet voice that attempted to make it seem Ok to quit, and for your sacrifice to make it great I say to you today, CONGRATULATIONS!!!
KUDOS for being the exception to the unwritten rule that states when things appear to be insurmountably hard it’s Ok to quit. You’re not the first to traverse this road of Dream, Struggle and Triumphant Victory and after your outstanding exhibition and performance demonstrated days ago I’m quite sure you definitely won’t be the last. There’s no doubt that you surely will be an inspiration for many more to embrace their struggle and adversity as they attempt to do the same. You’re proof positive that reasonable sacrifice over time coupled with focus, discipline, perseverance and persistence will not disappoint.
Thanks for seeing it through and being an inspiration because sooooo many others struggle as you do. Thanks for your message of “You can too” delivered by your undying efforts and actions. More AWESOMENESS to be continued no doubt. Congratulations again and keep making it GREAT GABBY!
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