The Voice, the Calm it Floats in
I have a friend lucky enough to be at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She sent out a letter today describing her activities. Here’s an interesting excerpt;
“Rode back on the bus with Heather McPhie – US Freestyle Skiing Olympian.
I asked her what goes through her mind as she is skiing her event – Freestyle- which involves speed, moguls, jumps. She said her mantra at the gate is “I believe” and then her mind goes completely calm and quiet — only with the occasional “hands in front”. Travis Mayer, who was the Silver Medalist in SLC 2002 and was our personal tutor at the freestyle event, said the same thing.”
Oddly enough this reminds me of an experience I had last year. I was asking this old drunk guy to move so that I could get my van out of the driveway. He got mad and instead of moving he ran at me with his cigarette trying to burn me. I remember my mind went quiet and the next thing I knew I had his cigarette hand by the wrist, twisting and my other hand on the car horn. He was begging me to let him go. It happened so fast – so so fast – but I remember the quiet and just knowing what to do.
So many women report experiencing this in assault situations. Some say they hear a voice assuring them, strategizing. The voice seems to float in a strange sea of calm.
Just like that voice “hands in front.”
The similarities here are striking.
Especially the opening mantra, the powerful and necessary entree to the realm of ferocity; “I believe.”