Watching 41 year-old mom Dara Torres win 2 silver medals in swimming at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, I was left inspired and highly motivated, as were many other women of all ages. It’s amazing what she was able to accomplish, especially after giving birth to her beautiful daughter just 2 years prior to these Olympics.
It is in such women as Dara Torres that we can see the unending possibilities of our lives, including that all of our dreams are valid, that all of our hard work and determination can pay off, and that we can reach our goals however lofty they may sometimes seem. It is in such women as Torres that we see ourselves serve as role models to the next generation. And as Torres has told us in many interviews and websites, she did not arrive at this momentous achievement by accident. She had to work hard for years, following her goals relentlessly, and still taking care of her family and daily life. I feel sure there were many obstacles and moments of exasperation, but there were certainly great moments of small and big victories along the way. In that regard, I am reminded and inspired that she is no different than each of us.
I love this era we are living in and I love being surprised and inspired by these wonderful woman that are a part of these exiting times.
