If you’re a regular reader of my column, you’re quite aware that I’ve hosted some pretty extravagant pity parties. I’m ashamed to admit that I can do them up right complete with decorations and mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres.
Self-pity is defined as a psychological state of mind where an individual in perceived adverse situations has not accepted the circumstances and does not have the confidence or ability to cope. Not becoming at all.
I think “perceived” is the key word there. And what gets my proverbial goat 99.9 percent of the time hardly qualifies under the definition of “adverse”.
While looking for ways to right that wrong, I encountered a recurring theme among the advice: Basically, I need to get out of my head and occupy myself with doing for others.
Recall that I have a husband; three children ages 11, 13, and 17; a dog; a cat; and two hamsters under my care. It would be an understatement to say that I already spend the bulk of my time in service to others. Three on the aforementioned list tolerate my services at best, but do complain when I slack on the job.
With that fresh on my mind, it was a no-brainer when long-time emcee of the Baytown Special Olympics, Steve Liles, mentioned that volunteers were needed for the annual event hosted by the City of Baytown last Saturday.
I couldn’t wait. And now that I’ve been, I don’t know what took me so long to get there.
As I stood in the volunteer check-in line with my two younger children, Erin and Jeremy, it became clear there was no shortage of people prepared to spend the day giving far more than time. I learned later that the volunteers outnumbered the athletes by more than 2-to-1! A round of applause for the folks of Baytown!
My kiddos and I were assigned — along with many others — to be finish-line judges. I showed up that morning ready to work and do whatever was needed to make the day enjoyable for the participants. What really happened can only be chalked up to fate surely guided by The Big Guy. He knows when I need a swift kick in the backside.
During the opening ceremony, an athlete from Cy-Fair moved out onto the track in front of her team and began belting out The National Anthem . . . over the voice of the person singing with the microphone. She knew every word. I was standing, but thought I was going to fall to my knees. She got a standing ovation.
When the games began, we took our places at the relay finish line. Soon after the pop of the starting shot, I realized why I was there. Thank goodness for sunglasses because the waterworks commenced.
What do I know about struggling against adversity and making it down the track to the finish line with a bigger-than-life smile on my face – even though I wasn’t the “winner”?
Many thanks to the City of Baytown staff for all their hard work on a well-coordinated event. And from the bottom of my heart: A big thank-you to the amazing athletes, their parents, and coaches. In the end, it was you who gave to me – a precious gift I’ll carry to the finish line.
© 2010 Natalie Whatley
Tags: Baytown Special Olympics