Now Is the Time to Finish Strong
As the pandemic inches toward completion, here’s an important message: You’re not done yet
Heading into the final stretch of the women’s snowboard cross race at the 2006 Winter Olympics, American Lindsey Jacobellis held a commanding lead over her competitors. As she ascended the second-to-last jump, Jacobellis looked back to confirm her lead, flew into the air, then grabbed her board in a celebratory display of swagger. The showboating would have been no big deal except that when she landed, Jacobellis fell on her backside while Tanja Frieden of Switzerland zoomed past to win the gold medal.
This kind of showy blunder happens all the time in sports. NFL players DeSean Jackson and Danny Trevathan literally fumbled on the one-yard line, intentionally dropped the ball in “look how cool I am” touchdown celebrations without realizing they hadn’t yet crossed the goal line. During the XGames moto-x race, Meghan Rutledge pumped her fist in the air, blowing both the landing and her shot at victory.
Last week, I read an article about recently vaccinated older adults who have dropped all pretense of social distancing. After a year of being isolated, they are back at the bars and bridge clubs, doing their metaphorical celebration dances. While I certainly understand the urge to let loose…
