The Athlete Called You (Part 1)

For Black History Month and as a sports enthusiast, I wanted to share with you my Top 10 Favorite Quotes from some of the greatest African-American female athletes of all time (in no particular order). After each quote, I leave you a few challenging questions so that YOU can bring out your inner athlete.

Next week, I’ll be giving you the last 5 quotes and questions, but for today, I’d like to you to work on these 5 – journal about them, share with a friend, post them on Facebook, etc.

“If you have a body, you’re an athlete.”
–Bill Bowerman, Track & Field coach and co-founder of Nike

Are you ready to bring out the ATHLETE in YOU?
**If so, I challenge you to read each quote out loud.

JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE, named the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated for Women

“It’s better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.”
– Do you find yourself looking back at the body and health you once had? Or, are you looking forward and preparing for thriving health in the years to come?

“Age is no barrier. It’s a limitation you put on your mind.”
– Do you have a self-defeating mindset when it comes to your age and what you believe your body can look, feel, and perform like in this time of your life?

“The medals don’t mean anything and the glory doesn’t last. It’s all about your happiness. The rewards are going to come, but my happiness is just loving the sport and having fun performing.”
– Are you finding fun physical activity that you enjoy doing?
– Are you finding creative, new healthy recipes you want to try?

“It’s a challenge for me to beat myself or do better. I try to push out of my mind not what I’ve accomplished but what I want to do.”
– What feats have you already accomplished in your life?
– What’s the next challenge you’re ready to take on?

“The glory of sport comes from dedication, determination and desire. Achieving success and personal glory in athletics has less to do with wins and losses than it does with learning how to prepare yourself so that at the end of the day, whether on the track or in the office, you know that there was nothing more you could have done to reach your ultimate goal.”
– Even the most gifted athletes in the world encounter losses. If your day didn’t go as successfully as planned, will you at least be satisfied in knowing that you gave your absolute best that day?

Wishing you joyful health in your 50’s,
Kim