Ponder

A few years ago, during the Para-Olympics 

in Seattle, nine participants, all mentally 

retarded or physically challenged, had aligned 

themselves for the 100 meter hurdles. 

     
Although at the given signal they didn't 

start exactly at that moment, nor orderly, they 

were determined to finish the race and thus win. 

All they had to do in order to win the race was 

to finish it. 

All managed to finish it, except for a 

young athlete that fell over the runway passage 

of the first hedge. Because of the pain and of 

the sorrow, he began to cry. The others hearing 

his cry came back for him. They slowed down and 

eventually they stopped. 

In that day an unprecedented situation 

occurred, eight out of the nine athletes 

returned in order to help the ninth athlete, 

which was in need of assistance. A girl with 

the down syndrome came up to the wounded to 

give him a kiss and to encourage him: 

     "Do not worry, the pain will go away." 

 
Although that day the world record was not 

beaten from any point of view, but the race was 

finished by all nice athletes which past the 

finish line together, holding each other with 

their arms. 

The whole stadium stood up and cheered 

them for several minutes. They were even more 

enthusiastic in the presence of such a wonderful 

gesture then when a record was beaten.

     Why was this possible? 

Because we all know well, that basically, 

the most important thing in this life is not 

so much winning by yourself, but helping others 

to win as well, even if you have to slow down 

and maybe turn back to help others. 

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"Getting together is a beginning; staying 

together is a step forward; working together 

is a success." 

 Henry Ford