Be honest – did you know there were three "Olympics" (summer and winter count as one), let alone the difference between them?
BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: Red will admit that before Black let her know that the Paralympics Closing Ceremony took place over Labor Day weekend, she didn't even know there was a Paralympics.
So, Red's experience as a straight-A student kicked in, and she decided to go online and learn more. She also, begrudgingly, realized that this was one of those examples of when technology and the internet were extremely useful, as in the past it would have meant going to the library or hoping that you had an encyclopedia at home. However, she stopped short of looking for stories on social media. (She'll be the first to admit, technology makes her feel "old.")
Anyway, she was fascinated to learn that for decades not only do the Paralympics occur right after each Olympics, in the same host city, but that they follow a similar schedule. Such as they include Opening and Closing Ceremonies filled with ritual and pageantry, which Red has always felt is one of the best parts of the Olympics.
But it was really the difference between the Paralympics and Special Olympics which intrigued Red the most, especially as her younger daughter had helped coach a local Special Olympics volleyball team and found it to be one of the most rewarding things she'd ever done. And while it turned out there were significant differences, they had one important thing in common,
I now know that the Special Olympics is for athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities, and every person's accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability, and Paralympic athletes must fulfill specific eligibility criteria (which include physical, visual, and/or intellectual impairments). But as a mom, I find both Special Olympic and Paralympic athletes to be incredibly inspiring, determined athletes who have overcome challenges that most of us have never even thought about, let alone experienced.
Black started to mention the concept of "inspiration porn" to Red, and how some people look at those with disabilities as inspirational solely because they are disabled (Black was fascinated by the TEDx talk where Sheila Young first used the term). But then realized Red's introduction to the Paralympics needed to be about the celebration of this year's games and how they were about unity, diversity, and overcoming a common obstacle (the pandemic),
Although I do not watch the Olympics or the Paralympics in real-time, I am interested in the various stories, because as I have said countless times, stories are powerful. And, every story I watched highlighted people who are world champion athletes. People who are inspirational because they are more than just skills – they are people whose stories inspire us with their humanity, hard work, and dedication.
Of course, the Paralympics, like the Olympics, has its stories of heartache (such as how a Malaysian shot putter won a gold and set a world record only to be disqualified for turning up three minutes late to the final), but also political triumph (the Afghans athletes who managed to get to Tokyo), and romance (the visually impaired runner who received a fourth-place finish but then a marriage proposal from her guide and partner).
And now we're both looking forward to the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris …
Last year on MLK Day, Red learned the power and inspiration of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, in these divisive times, we can all learn from him … as not only did he fight for equality for all, but his approach is proof that peaceful protests can achieve social justice.
For most of us, writing and delivering one powerful and/or inspiring thing would be a very difficult task. To be remembered for hundreds is truly amazing.
BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: There's so much one can say about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who led the civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968, and whose leadership was fundamental to the ending of legal segregation in many parts of the United States. But regardless of your position on segregation, it's almost impossible not to acknowledge, yet alone appreciate, how incredibly powerful and inspiring his words were and the impact they continue to have on the civil rights movement. But don't believe us. This
goodreads post provides more than just a good read, it's a seemingly endless list of inspirational quotes while a great "refresher" course on Dr. King is available at History.com.
National holidays aren’t the time to count calories.
BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: We both agree that happiness has a hole in it, although one of us may only eat one bagel a year while the other tries to keep it to only one bagel when she does indulge.
Red admits that although she knows bagels aren’t a healthy choice, she’ll occasionally treat herself, not only because they remind her of growing in New York when almost every town on Long Island had at least one bagel shop, but because she loves whipped cream cheese almost as much as the fresh, squishy bagel on which she smears it. And while she was a fan of both cinnamon raisin and onion bagels as a kid, the introduction of the “Everything” bagel was a turning point. However, her all-time favorite is technically not a bagel, as it’s a bialy.
On the other hand, it only takes one look at Black’s “selfishly svelte figure” to know that she has the willpower to resist bagels (including her favorite, sesame) as well as all the other carbs that she loves, but when it comes to National Bagel Day and the “health” issues of bagels, she has an interesting perspective,
Bagels are one of life’s true culinary pleasures, often tied to wonderful memories, so you cannot always measure their value in terms of nutrition. But, when it comes to healthy eating, it might be interesting to remember that bagel-cutting injuries are common and result in thousands of people having to go to emergency rooms or urgent care centers … so, celebrate carefully.
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A day to clean up your desk?! It will take way more than a day …
BANTER BITE BACKSTORY: No one is immune from piles of paper, not even Black, the master of organization, but there’s a huge difference between a desk with a few small piles and some scattered papers (although her laptop’s keyboard needs serious cleaning) and Red’s “workroom” that usually looks like a tornado hit it.
Which is why Red rolled her eyes when Black mentioned today’s National Clean Your Desk Day, as it’d take her significantly more than a day to “clean up this mess,” but then she remembered Black’s advice on how to keep her piles (and piles) of paper under control and felt inspired. Red admits often feeling like she’s drowning in paper, but that’s because she lets the piles get out of control before reminding herself of Black’s very easy, straightforward approach to turning her mountains of paper into small manageable hills. And, significantly reducing stress along the way, because as Black points out,
Sometimes, it is more important to know what you are ignoring than it is to deal with everything in the piles.