This week all eyes around the world have been fixed upon the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games.  I truly love the Olympic games for a number of reasons…you get to see some very random sporting events that you don’t get to see everyday (swimming, shotput, volleyball, etc.), the most intense athletic competition that you’ll ever see, but most of all I love seeing how much these great athletes love competing for their country.  One athlete that I can see this most evident in is American gymnast Shawn Johnson.  At only 16 years of age, this is her first Olympic games and she is clearly enjoying every second of it.  Although Shawn has been able to keep up with the world’s best gymnasts with a total of 3 silver medals up to this point, she has not let this fierce competition consume her.  In my eyes, she has epitomized sportsmanship thusfar in the olympics, as she is always seen smiling, cheering, and even hugging her toughest rivals from other nations after their routines.  I was watching her yesterday as her gold medal in the floor excercise just barely slipped away and I saw the smile on her face and the look in her eyes and just couldn’t help but think…this girl is really having the time of her life here at the olympics.  THAT is what the olympic games are all about…representing your country and enjoying the moment.

So basically Shawn Johnson has been able to not get so caught up in the fierce competition of one of the most popular olympic events, and still have the time of her life.  If you watch her at the olympics you can tell that she is enjoying every second of the experience.  I think we can all learn a very important lesson from this 16 year old gymnast from Iowa.  I think at times we can all get too caught up in whats going on around us that we stop enjoying whats going on in our lives.  Maybe its that big test you have to pass, or some financial troubles, or maybe the stress of planning a wedding.  Oftentimes things that require a great deal of attention can make us forget how much fun life can be and can stop us from smiling.  Never forget how amazing life is and how much fun it can be!!!  If Shawn Johnson can not let the fierce Olympic competition get her down, than why should anything in our lives do that.  Take one look at Shawn’s awesome smile and remember life rocks, keep smiling!