I’m addicted to watching Olympians perform. It’s amazing how these athletes train for years and put it all on the line in one event. Athletes at this level have learned some important lessons. One that I recall is when Ashley Wagner, an American figure skater, was being interviewed by Savanna Guthrie. She spoke of her up-and-down career as a champion skater.

Savanna asked Ashley what she said to herself just before she takes the ice. All smiles, Ashley referred to herself as an army brat, saying her dad was in the service and her mother was a teacher. So they didn’t have the means to hire a sports psychologist that so many other Olympians enjoyed. She said her dad just told her, “Don’t be a wimp. That’s all I can tell you. Don’t be a wimp.” Ashley smiled at the simplicity and power of that advice.

I have to believe those words echoed in her mind every time she forced herself onto the ice for another grueling workout, forcing herself to skate through sore and bruised muscles. It’s what propelled her to give that extra effort. Her attitude, wrapped in her dad’s counsel, made her an Olympic athlete.

We all could benefit from the demonstration of courage and perseverance of this 22-year old Olympian. How often do you go through your day bemoaning how unfair things are? How often do you complain about the volume or complexity of the work ahead of you? How easy is it to criticize those around you for not doing what you want them to do? How many times in a day do you fall in line when the “ain’t it awful” parade marches by?

Maybe this is the time to heed Ashley’s mantra: Don’t be a wimp.