It's likely the entire community of Humboldt either got up early or stayed up late, or took time out of their work day to tune into the Olympics last Friday and Saturday.
After all, it's not very often that one of our own competes at the Olympic Games.
And there she was. All five-foot-six of her, standing at the starting line with some of the best heptathletes in the world. Brianne Theisen.
It was odd, a bit surreal, watching her on television. She was a kid I used to take photos of at track and field days in Muenster when she was in high school. And now, just a few short years later, she's running around in London. At the Olympics.
It's something that kind of sets you back for a minute, when the realization hits that she's actually there.
What a lesson that is to all of us, that she made it there.
And it's not just a lesson for the athletes, or even for the youth.
Her presence at the Olympics should teach us all, no matter how old we are, or what we want to excel in, that anything is possible with enough hard work and determination.
Nothing worth anything comes without a lot of hard work, without sweat equity, without paying your dues.
If you really want something, you have to go out and get it.
These sentiments have become clichés. But clichés become clichés because they are true, right? So maybe it's time to put some meaning back into those words, to really think about them, to take the message to heart. Then maybe it's time to start deciding what you want and planning how to go after it.
This whole experience of Brianne's should also teach us that it doesn't matter where you're from. Excellence will be recognized and rewarded, even if you're from Saskatchewan, even if you grew up far away from the hustle and bustle of any city. If you work hard enough, long enough; if you strive with everything you have, you can get to where you want to be, no matter where you start from.
That's something that youth need to hear more. And something that adults need to be reminded of.
Not all of us will compete at the Olympic games. But maybe we could get to be the best at what we love, maybe we could get to do what we love because of how hard we've worked at it.
They won't call it the Olympics, but maybe it'll feel like you've got a gold medal around your neck when you get what you've been after.
