Category: Tuesday Travels

A tour of the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado

A visit to the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs showcases the dedication and resilience of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Promoting physical activity, it emphasizes the health benefits of exercise, while sharing the “Winning Attitudes” and determination exhibited by champions. The center inspires a commitment to personal excellence and perseverance.

On a trip to  Colorado Springs my husband and I visited the United States Olympic Training Center . I hope these photos help you understand why his facility is called the “flagship” training center. Both Olympic and Paralympic athletes on Team USA train here.

You’re welcome to continue here, or you can read an updated version of this post at this link

Life Lessons from Team USA

As much as I admire the elite athletes who comprise the Olympic team, the Paralympic athletes captivate my imagination.

These are athletes who compete with, not necessarily despite, significant physical impairments; but to call them “disabled” does them an injustice. Many of them play and compete in physically demanding sports without full use of their arms and legs; some don’t even have all of their arms and legs.

As we walked around the complex on a guided tour, I remembered the importance of physical activity for our physical and mental health, and made a note to remind you too.  Almost no one will disagree with the recommendation to include and increase physical activity in our daily lives.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans call for moderate-intensive physical activity for 150 minutes or more per week, vigorous-intensity activity for at least 75 minutes per week, or an equivalent combination of the 2, and engaging in muscle strengthening activity at least twice per week.

  • Medical studies show that exercise can prevent or improve many chronic health conditions and lack of exercise contributes to many diseases.
  • Physical activity may reduce the risk of cancers of the breast, colon, uterus, prostate and pancreas.
  • Regular exercise may help prevent diabetes and heart disease.
  • Exercise can relieve joint and back pain due to arthritis.
  • Depression is treated with physical activity successfully

As we walked through the  USA Shooting area I picked up a flyer titled “Winning Attitudes”. I liked what it said so I am using some of the ideas to illustrate my photos. I hope they will encourage you to develop a “winning attitude” in all areas of your life.

Enjoy this brief tour through the Olympic Complex and if you go to Colorado Springs, be sure and visit; the cost is reasonable and worth the price.

Become excited, confident, and enthusiastic about your goals.

statue of athletes at entrance to facility
statue of athletes at entrance to facility

Winners have the ability to look inside themselves and find that special dream.

“Olympic Strength” statue- four athletes supporting the world with a figure skater beside them

Winners focus on solutions, not problems.

wheelchairs
wheelchairs adapted for playing

Winners have positive attitudes in all elements of their lives. The more you think about, talk about, and write about a thing happening, the greater the certainty of that thing happening.

vehicle
on display in the Hall of Fame

Goals should identify minimum performance levels. They should never limit your performance.

swimming pool
a real “olympic sized” swimming pool

Real winners are champions in life, not just in sports.

two champion athletes
Runner Tyson Gay and gymnast Mary Lou Retton in the Hall of Fame

Missing a goal means setting another goal to strive for.

gym
multi use gymnasium

A champion constantly learns and improves.

practice
words to train by and live by

Champions are willing to risk a little in the short run to gain an advantage in the long run

2 athletes
2 athletes hard at work

Winners have the ability to look inside themselves and find that special dream. 

be a champion.
I may not be a competitive athlete, but I will stay as active as possible as long as possible.

Excellence is achieved only through constant pursuit. 

housing.
The athletes live, eat, and sleep here.

Are YOU a CHAMPION? 

Dr. Aletha

Making and sharing memories at the beach in Cancun, Mexico

A couple’s first vacation in Cancun takes an unexpected turn when their friend falls ill. Despite the tragedy, the husband insists they go in his place. The trip proves to be a wonderful, bittersweet experience, filled with love, stories, and cherished memories. It’s a tribute to friendship and the enduring spirit of those they’ve lost.

updated August 2, 2024

My husband and I had traveled to Mexico on mission trips but never for a vacation. Our friends, “George and Emma, owned a timeshare in Cancun and graciously invited us to share it with them on their annual visit. They purchased it many years ago, and celebrated their wedding anniversary there. We appreciated their generosity and began planning the trip.

A few weeks later Raymond received an email from George with detailed instructions on booking a flight to Cancun, how to get a reliable taxi to the condo, and other information. Since the trip was still 9 months away we were surprised, but knowing George is a planner, thought nothing else about it.

Not more than a couple of weeks later, we received chilling and scary news. George was ill; we didn’t immediately learn details, but apparently, it was something bad. And indeed it was.

We soon learned that he was diagnosed with an advanced cancer, that chemo could slow, but not cure. We were heartbroken for our friends.

We assumed the trip was impossible; obviously neither they nor we would go.  However, George the planner had other ideas.

We went to visit them and after we sat down and were comfortable George looked at Raymond and said, “I won’t be able to go to Cancun, but I want Emma to go, and I want you and Aletha to go with her.”

They showed us a photo of the condo, in a beautiful beachfront resort. It looked lush, luxurious, and inviting, a stark contrast to what they were facing.

We didn’t know what to say; what do you say to a request like that? We didn’t want to upset him, so we just said yes, both of us silently wondering if it was the right thing to do.

George was correct, he was not able to go to Cancun; he died a few weeks after our visit. We attended a memorial service for him; it was not a traditional funeral but a celebration of his life. Soon after, Emma contacted us and confirmed her intention to go on the trip and wanted us to go with her.

So we did and had a wonderful time. Emma was a gracious hostess, making sure we were comfortable, taking us to nice restaurants, and ordering food delivery on a rainy evening. Having been there many times, she did not want to sightsee with us but sent us out to visit the interesting local sites that she knew we would enjoy.

Cancun Mexico sites

the Maya pyramid at Chichen Itza
the Maya pyramid at Chichen Itza

Over meals she charmed us with stories of her life with George, their children, and grandchildren, pastoring a church, and fostering more than 30 children. And she listened with understanding and unconditional acceptance as we shared some of the dark griefs that we have walked through, which we have shared with no one outside our family.

IMG_2231
the Chichen Itza pyramid up close

George and Emma are people who love God and express that love by caring for each other, their family, and everyone else they meet.  That week we were the fortunate recipients of that love too. In some ways, it felt like George was there with us .

Cathedral of San Gervacio in Valladolid
Cathedral of San Gervacio in Valladolid
IMG_2196
Taking a tour of a local “resort”, we almost thought we should buy a timeshare there. The salespeople were persistent but we resisted their pressure and left with our money intact.
IMG_2217
in a cenote, an underground lake
in a cenote, an underground lake
Mayan crafts
Mayan crafts
2014-10-23 11.23.13
watching our waiter preparing a flaming strawberry dessert
watching our waiter preparing a flaming strawberry dessert
2014-10-24 19.38.13
We all enjoyed this dessert on our last evening there. Perfect finish to an enjoyable and special vacation.

Making new memories

Several years later, Emma met a nice man, “Glenn”, whose spouse had also died. Like Emma and her late husband, they had children and grandchildren and had pastored churches. After a time of getting to know each other, they soon realized their friendship had turned into love, Glenn proposed, and they were married.

Their wedding was a casual affair, more of a party than a formal ceremony. Everyone who attended said it was the best wedding they had ever attended.

In place of a wedding cake, they served ice cream sundaes.

sharing the HEART of friendship

While in Mexico, I used Frommer’s travel guide for information about the Cancun area and found it helpful and easy to use (this is an affiliate link that can help support this blog when used to purchase; thank you)

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you turn health challenges into health opportunities.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha