What is the highest form of sportsmanship in a race? Runner #Ivan showed the world.
Kenyan runner Abel Mutai was a few meters away from the finish line but got confused by the track markings and thought he had completed the race. Spanish-speaking Ivan Fernandez was running behind him and realized that Abel was confused. Ivan started shouting at Abel to continue running, but Abel didn’t understand Spanish. Realizing that Abel didn’t understand, Fernandez pushed him towards the finish line.
A reporter who witnessed this asked Ivan, “Why did you do this?” Ivan replied, “My dream is that one day we can have a society where we push and help each other to win.”
The reporter pressed on, “But why did you let Kenya win?”
Ivan replied, “I didn’t let him win; he was going to win. The race was his.”
The reporter insisted, “But you could have won!”
Ivan looked at the reporter and said, “But what would be the merit of my victory? What would be the honor of this medal? What would my mother think of it?”
Values are passed from generation to generation. What values are we teaching our children? How much do we encourage others?
Most of us use others’ weaknesses to our advantage instead of helping them overcome those weaknesses. Ivan is a perfect example of how wrong this is.
How many of us align with Ivan’s actions?
In school and college life, when discussing competition, our son often asked questions like Ivan’s. Today, we learned a valuable lesson from an Olympic runner for our son’s questions.
Thank you, Ivan…
Thanks to Vignesh Janarthanan’s Facebook post
A wonderful share to motivate good values & goodwill in action.
While this trip to the Middle east, was a great getaway of sorts, between the work and pleasure, it undoubtedly became a fodder for thought and much reflections in those moments of chanced and planned connects with some amazing people living there. And some of them I met for the first time and bonded so instantly as if I knew them forever and a few who I knew for decades but didnt get to meet and connect earlier.
There were many more on my list of people who I wanted to meet but have left that for my next trip sooner than later.
Connects of empathy:
Meeting another human being for the first time is an enigmatic phenomenon. In todays age of technology although you may try to connect in so many ways online. Real time meet and greets hold their own a bag of surprises and treats in tow.
One such meet was planned … by me and my dear warm hearted friend from online. Fatima.An eloquent writer with a heart of gold and a keenly developed insight of people and their resources who draws much strength in positive reflections and most importantly a kind and brave heart following her dreams.
The heartfelt connects established in moments of our first meeting was clearly visible. She treated me to an amazing authentic Arabic dinner that evening and while catching up on our lives, in between us was a complete ease of being which we both mutually sensed in the lovely ease of conversation and strength of connection in the little time we had that day. Her warm hospitality and generosity touched me and I truly look forward to meeting her again sooner than later and wish her the best always from my heart.
Then there was this local Arab woman dressed in the traditional Abhaya worn with the hijab and those alluring kohl rimmed eyes with whom I shared a lengthy conversation of their culture and learned much but who moved me in the simplicity of her words and in sharing her heart’s deepest desires for freedom of movement and her eagerness in learning to dance…
Another wonderful woman with whom my daughter and I shared a great rapport albeit in just a few minutes of conversation was a travel guide who invited us to her home in Abu Dhabi. We got talking about so many things in such a short span of time. We bonded without reservations.
There are many more truly endearing people I met and connected some who I managed to catch up with on phone …but simply put perhaps it is just my way of seeing but I found many friendly people from across the world living there making a living thriving in the tolerance and interconnects that makes up much of Dubai’s culture in recent times.
And yes of course my visit to the traditional city of Sharjah had its own share of charm . As the people I met there were my very dear friends connecting after so long … yet the heartconnects were entrenched so deep that it felt home to me .
A short driving across the city will lead you through the Corniche where you can stay on to watch the beautiful Arabian Sunset and may be drive further on to Al Ain as well.
Will not forget the trips to the Gold and Spice Souks and most of all the Creek and the dhow cruise on the creek one pleasant evening….
Foodwise :
Being a vegetarian I thought my choices would be limited to pizzas and pastas and of course my saviour’ Subway’ besides the Indian food . But I was pleasantly surprised to find my flavour in Arabic food. Suffice to say the sumptous starters of the Arab cusine and their spiced tea was perfectly suited to my vegetarian and satvic senibilities. And I must thank my dear friends, relatives and hosts who took so much care and put so much consideration while ordering that I will hold very fond memories of dining out in this delightful trip.
Thanks to my amazing hosts I tried many dishes some which were known like the falafel and some new to me…tabbouleh and the zatar and lentil soup
‘Creativity stems from the acceptance of your authentic self. It is a never-ending journey of endless possibilities that is much beyond the pursuit of a hobby or craft and can be a habit of a lifetime. So besides being a Dance educator being a writer and a designer, creating art and writing poetry gives me immense satisfaction with the infinite ways of expressing myself as I believe in enjoying the journey as much as the destination.’
To all my dear lovely ‘ Friends from all around this beautiful world’!
Between friends…not for us the bondage’s of time, space and superficiality or distance… thoughts are words unspoken but heard joyously without distraction.
The simple presence of a friend is always welcome, never intrusive; thereby an answer to our unspoken needs without questions.
It’s at times a validation of all that we stand for and often enough maybe just a forethought thrown in wisely in our direction which would be wise to be paid a heed to.
A confidence builder, a care giver, a mutual thought processor, a symbiotic thinker, a common goal sharer, a wisdom enhancer, a mood up lifter an energy booster, a health facilitator, a friend is so much and so much more… endless conversations completely whimsical, utterly important, at times all that is the simple need of the moment .
In all, having the privilege of a good friend is a conscious movement towards light and all that’s bright.
Cheers to the good friend who manifests in our life and makes our living fine!
Savvy Raj 
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