High achievement lessons on ice

Last night, it was more Skating! Sequins! and Celebrations! as Kim Yu-Na buried her competition in Olympic Figure Skating. I confess to having a bit of a girl crush on Miss Kim. She has that “it” factor–sassy without seeming to be too full of herself, sexy without being vulgar or crass. There were moments in her gold medal performance when she looked at the audience as if to say, “I know you’re watching me,” and “Isn’t this fun?” And yes, we were watching and it was fun. She let us in to her performance, making an unmistakeable emotional connection with her audience. But that’s not what’s got me going ga-ga over Yu-Na (okay, I couldn’t resist).

"If my performance falters, not only people around me but the whole nation might turn their back on me."

She’s nineteen years old, people. She a *bleeping* superstar. And she knows the score. Knows it, gets it, nails it. She’s not just blithely zooming around the globe scarfing up endorsement deals and thinking she’s entitled to it all. Oh no. One slip up and splat: it could be all over. And the pressure, naturally, is intense.

"I resent the situation where people believe I should always do well and that they take it so seriously when I don't."

This is the double-edged sword of being a super high achiever. Expectations soar out of control. A constant struggle ensues between reality (tiny girl, slippery ice, bright lights) and the adoring public (higher! more toe loops! brighter sequins!).

So here’s the interactive part of our program. The next time you watch someone slip up, someone you expected to do better than that, pause. “Blessed are the merciful,” it is said, “for they shall obtain mercy.” We’re all on the ice. It’s cold and dangerous and risky out here. Extend your hand and say, “Let me help you up,” and “Ouch, that’s gonna leave a mark.” Be kind and gracious and courteous. Because it’s your turn next–and anything can happen when the spotlights are on you.