What they did

Decades ago two individuals envisioned a better life for people with intellectual disabilities- Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Richard LaMunyon.  This Saturday the world will celebrate EKS Day – a day dedicated to Mrs. Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics movement.  A week ago law enforcement officers and Special Olympics representatives celebrated Retired Police Chief Richard LaMunyon, founder of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

Mrs. Shriver saw first hand the terrible treatment of people with intellectual disabilities.  She saw the struggles of her own sister and witnessed the indescribable human suffering of those hidden away in institutions across our country and around the world.  Eunice moved from anger to the creation of Camp Shriver – where in her own back yard boys and girls with intellectual disabilities were invited to come, play games, and have fun.  Fast forward to today – over 4.7 million people with intellectual disabilities from 169 countries are training and competing in Special Olympics sports.

In 1981, Richard LaMunyon, Chief of Police in Wichita, Kansas, volunteered for the local Special Olympics Games.  He saw a great need being served with very little resources.  He also saw what Special Olympics not only brought to the athletes but to the volunteers and organizers who were at the Games.  The Chief took five of his officers and by running the Olympic Torch, they committed to raising money and awareness for Special Olympics.  Fast forward to today – this past year 97,000 law enforcement officers from around the world raised $55,354,258 for Special Olympics.

Here are my thoughts.  Both Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Chief Richard LaMunyon not only had opinions about the darkness going on in the world around them – they had an idea they believed would bring light.  They didn’t just talk about what they felt needed to change – it was what they DID that changed the lives of millions of people then and now.

It feels like today a lot of us are just talking, when maybe, just one idea followed by an action could bring light to the darkness.

 

 

 

Tees

If you are involved in Special Olympics or have been for any length of time, my guess is you probably have a t-shirt that proves it.  In fact, I would bet that most of us in Special Olympics New Mexico have stacks of Games and Event t-shirts that we have collected over the years.  This past weekend our Four Corners Invitational shirt was a hit, and I believe this is why.

There is an entire psychology on what our clothes say about us.  It relates to establishing and maintaining a sense of who we are, where we fit in, and where we belong.

Over 1800 people left our Four Corner’s Invitational sporting a t-shirt that sent this message to those around them – “I am Special Olympics – I am New Mexico – and I am proud of it.”

 

 

#FCIUnifiedSelfie

One of Special Olympics New Mexico’s areas of focus is building inclusive communities – implementing strategies and creating opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities and those without to interact.  The hope is through those experiences, barriers of misunderstanding and stereotypes will be shattered and friendships will be formed.

The weekend of August 19th, Special Olympics New Mexico will host its Four Corners Invitational  in Farmington.  Much of this competition is “unified” – people with and without intellectual disabilities will compete together in golf, aquatics relays, and softball.   Although we will be PLAYING unified – we will also be LIVING unified that weekend, which means we will be eating together, staying in hotels together, travelling together, dancing together, and just hanging out together.

We want to show people what playing and living unified looks like, so, anyone who will be at these Games, we invite you to take UNIFIED SELFIES and post them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Use the hashtag #FCIunifiedselfie and we will then select and repost many of these photos in the next issue of our SOBrief.

We can’t wait to see your unified selfies!

 

 

Inspired

I have been invited to speak to a group of nonprofit leaders about “staying in it for the long haul.”  I guess after you do something for 24 years, people are curious about why you have and how you have.  I’ve given thought to my tenure with Special Olympics New Mexico and the reasons for my staying in the Movement, and a large part of why and how has to do with my being inspired – day after day, year after year.

The definition of “inspire” that resonates with me the most is “to breathe into.”  That is exactly what happened at my first Special Olympics competition and every Special Olympics event since.  As I watch people with intellectual disabilities compete – they breathe into me something sacred.  A revelation so great that it requires my response.

Each time I watch a Special Olympics athlete – each time I am with them –  I am able to say “Because of you – I …”  The end of that sentence will change, but I can share a few examples that have remained constant.

TO THE ATHLETES OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS –

Because of you I work harder at things that don’t come easy for me.
Because of you I have faith in things that don’t seem possible.
Because of you I value honesty, kindness, courage, and acceptance more.
Because of you I don’t have as many wants and am more thankful for what I have.
Because of you I go slower.
Because of you my heart is happier.
Because of you my work matters.
Because of you I pray more.
Because of you I love deeper.
Because of you my life is better.

Thank you for always inspiring me – it’s because of you I am inspired to be a better me.

 

 

 

Not just cookies

Yesterday morning, Mike Silva owner of Rude Boy Cookies and Special Olympics athlete Tim Harris, went on the 2 KASA Morning Show to promote the Rude Boy Cookies for a Cause Campaign.  You wouldn’t think a morning TV show would serve the purpose of providing its listeners with meaningful thoughts worthy of personal consideration.  You may not have expected those thoughts to come from the owner of a cookie shop and a man born with Down Syndrome, but it’s a perfect example of life providing small treasures in unexpected places.

I invite you to listen to this interview.

If you were able to listen, you heard the interviewer ask Mike why supporting local nonprofits was important?  His answer was – “I am a local kid.  I grew up here.  If I can’t make a change in my own community – what’s the point?”

As she proceeded to interview Tim, he shared the many Special Olympics sports he competes in.  The interviewer asked him how he did that – how he trained for so many?  His response was “I train a lot – I take the time to.”

The meaningful thought that both of these guys left me with is whether we are wanting to do something to better the community we live in or do something to better ourselves, we have to be intentional about doing it.  Talking about what things we should do or could do doesn’t actually “do” anything.  So, dear friends, what have you been talking about lately that could in some way better your community or better yourself?  Consider this a personal challenge and in the next 30 days be intentional and put your words into action.  I would love to hear back from you.

 

 

Back

I sat in the pew half-listening half-thinking about our athlete who had passed away.  My heart was feeling sad for all of us who were already missing her.  The change in the priest’s voice caused me to look up at him.  “When she would come to take the sacrament, she would always be smiling at me.  I would place it on her tongue, and then she would smile at me, again.  I found myself smiling back.”

With so much sadness in the circumstances of our world today, I have been thinking about the power of a smile and what it can do and mean to the person who sees it.  When someone smiles at me, just like that priest – I smile back.  It’s true – a smile invites a smile.  One smile has the power to change our mood, and moods change our actions.

Power is an interesting word.  Webster defines it as “having the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others and/or the course of events.”  Think about that for a second and then be intentional about using your power.  Smile and smile often.  Smile at people you love and smile at perfect strangers.  You just may see that you have more power than you ever knew you had, because the reality is – your power doubles when the person who sees your smile – smiles back.

 

 

The Force

This year’s theme “State Summer Games Where The Force Is With You” was not only wildly popular and fun – it was true.

I would venture to guess that almost everyone attending the Games had enough
knowledge to not only understand but experience the parallel between the Force of Star Wars and the Force of Special Olympics.

The Force is what gives power.  It surrounds us and penetrates us and binds us together.  When using the Force – one has the power to influence others and even see the future.  The Force is used for persuasion, wisdom, and the performance of great physical feats.

The Force resides within and when awakened – can change our hearts and minds.  Can I just say – it did.

With the closing of our Games, and the closing of my thoughts today – May The Force Be With You.