Rainbow connection

Join me in wishing and praying for that much-needed rainbow.”

Barely two weeks after I had ended my column with this line to convince myself that there would be better days to come, my prayers were answered. Watching Carlos Yulo work his way toward winning two gold medals, seeing the Philippine flag hoisted ahead of the others, and listening to our national anthem being played, rekindled such a strong sense of country which unfailingly brought on tears and renewed hope in the promise of believing in the strengths that we have as a people.

“What does it take to be a champion?”

A colleague and I agreed it has always been a deep hunger to succeed. For Carlos, his dream when he was 7 years old was crystal clear. From the life stories shared, there were common denominators that served as the fuel to feed their aspirations: a chance for a better quality of life having been born to a less-than-privileged background, an opportunity to serve as a model of inspiration, the honor of representing the country, and the possibility of making and being part of history. They were also fortunate to start early, having been introduced to the sport through a parent, a sibling, or a significant figure. For some, there were also unexpected windfalls in the form of benefactors who provided the training and the right exposure which enabled them to expand their network, share the stage, compete with the best, and become world-class athletes in the process. This interplay of factors may have shaped their perspectives and helped solidify a personal game plan to get to where they wanted to be. What sets them apart is their single-minded, almost blinder approach, to reaching a long-term goal amidst expected and unforeseen challenges.

While the Olympics is a showcase of skill and endurance, it has also been the perfect setting to witness and identify with the frailties that come with being human. From where I see it, sports is a life lesson by itself. It is a field where one allows the heart to rule over the brain, and in so doing, becomes an instrument for self-awareness, as you go through the process of learning the extent to which you can push yourself and be at peace with it. EJ Obiena must have flawlessly leaped and landed to yank into a major soul string. Never doubt the power of honesty and the open acceptance of one’s vulnerabilities, much less, in his case, the willingness to share it. It takes courage. Furthermore, his apology for not having made it to the podium had the effect of making us question if it was us who owed it to him.

It would take another four years to the next Olympics but a few minutes to reflect on what our Philippine team has freely given to us. Through their actions, they have not only shown their love for country but also given meaning to President Theodore Roosevelt’s words, that “nothing worth in this world is worth having, or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty.” Life has never been fashioned to be easy. One needs to experience hunger to be able to savor the sweetness of fulfillment.

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet are the seven colors of the rainbow. Never think that someone else is responsible for putting color into your life. You make your own palette through the choices you make. Our athletes have taught us well. As to that promised pot of gold, it is up to us how we perceive it.

Two weeks ago, I failed to take in a self-made prescription and allowed myself to wallow in a quicksand of negativity, forgetting to take stock of the positives in the present. To make up for it, I leave you with a few lines from a song that has endeared itself to many. Congruent or not to previous thoughts, or maybe even be labeled as a flight of ideas, this song is one of hope and a personal form of transfusion in near states of dehydration.

A huge thanks to Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher who were responsible for the lyrics and the melody. I will never outgrow “Sesame Street” and the Muppets. The late Jim Henson who we sadly lost to toxic shock syndrome, was and will always be an excellent teacher.

From one dreamer to another, here goes:

Who said that every wish,

Would be heard and answered

When wished on the morning star

Somebody thought of that

And somebody believed it

Look what it’s done so far

What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing

And what do we think we might see?

Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection

The lovers, the dreamers, and me

While there is no medicine to heal a world that has gone ill, there is no rule against believing that someday we will find IT.

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