Unlike most people, I hate watching the Olympics.
When I recently expressed this view at dinner, my friends gasped. How could anyone not like the Olympics? “That’s just plain un-American,” they claimed, with frowns painted across their faces.
Let me explain.
I’ve never been a person drawn to athletics, preferring to bury my nose in a good book over watching sports on television. Oh, I like the opening ceremony, but that’s because I enjoy all the pomp and circumstance, the music, the broadcasted stories behind the athletes. But the actual competition? Yawn…..
As a novelist, I do pay attention to why so many other people glue their eyeballs to the fierce competition of these athletic events. I may be wrong, but perhaps the popularity stems from the same reason I love novels.
There is something about a person fighting to attain a goal against insurmountable odds and winning that strikes a cord in all our hearts. We love wondering what that feels like. What if we could do the same in our own circumstances?
No matter if you live vicariously through your favorite athlete with gold medals wrapped around his/her neck, or you relate better to a heroine maneuvering through the pages of a novel to a satisfying conclusion . . . humans striving to break across the finish line calls to the deep part of our souls and reminds us the race matters.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE OLYMPIC EVENT?
The football coach went too far with her daughter, now this mother is willing to risk everything she holds dear to bring him to justice.
MOTHER of PEARL releases Sept 1.
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Comments 4
I love the Olympics and wrote about it on my blog too. But we’re not as far apart as that initially appears, Kellie. 😉 It’s the stories of these athletes, how hard they work, the obstacles they’ve overcome to get there. Sometimes my favorites don’t win. Sometimes an underdog powers up and overcomes on that day. But it’s exciting to know the athletes background and then cheer them on. It’s Goal (we all know the ultimate prize), Motivation (they vary with each athlete but all love their sport), Conflict (whether that’s another Olympian, a personal struggle, or an injury). And funny, I’m speaking on GMC tomorrow morning. 😉 It’s on my mind but also perfect examples over the next two weeks. Thanks for your thoughts on this topic!
Yes, I think we agree, Leanna. The human stories are what draws people in. Good luck with your workshop!
You know, you and my mother have so much in common. Besides being a trial junkie, she doesn’t like watching the olympics…and doesn’t mind saying so.
🙂 Really, you two should meet. And I have a feeling she’s going to LOVE Mother of Pearl. She already adores the title.
Yes, your mom and I might be soul mates!