Olympic Year

I have thoroughly enjoyed being glued to the TV these last two weeks watching the Summer Olympics. I watched everything – swimming, gymnastics, track, volley ball, beach volley ball, rowing, rhythmic gymnastics, diving, opening/closing ceremonies and on and on. I think I enjoyed this Olympics more than any previous just because I could stay up late to catch all the excitement (and not feel guilty or exhausted at work).

Throughout the two weeks of coverage the commentators talked a lot about things that happened in the 2004 Athens Olympics. It got me thinking a lot about what I was doing in 2004 and what has taken place in my life since then. In some ways 2004 seems like it was yesterday and in other ways it feels like a lifetime ago.

In 2004 I was living in Owings Mills and had been Director of Orientation at Towson for almost three years. SINCE 2004 I have traveled around the world TWICE….Visited 22 countries…Switched jobs three times…Lived on a ship for a cumulative of one year…Moved my life to Center City Philly….switched career fields…and the best part - became a God mother AND an Aunt. YIKES – that’s a lot of changes in just four years!

2004 – that last summer Olympic year was a big year for me because that was the year that I decided to leave Towson, pack up my life and work for Semester at Sea. That decision (as most big life decisions) changed the trajectory of my career and life. Now here I am in 2008 – another summer Olympics year and another year of big changes for me. I’m excited to see how the rest of this year will play out for me and what direction my life and work will take next. Watching all the athletes’ dedication, passion and commitment has been inspiring to me as I explore and seek out options and opportunities for this next leg of my life and career journey. It also makes me wonder what amazing and great things will take place in my life (and all of our lives) over the next four years. Where will be when the next Summer Olympics begin in London in 2012? I guess that’s all part of the adventure and excitement of being on this journey that we call life.