The Cost of Success.

Today as I amped up to complete an hour and a half trainer ride on my bike I saw that Lindsey Vonn was interviewed on one of my go-to podcasts and thought, hell ya! I’ll listen to this and it should motivate me. How could it not? Lindsey Vonn is arguably THE best and most decorated alpine skier in history. Male or female. She is gorgeous, talented and a bad ass. She has overcome, some incredibly crazy, injuries to win again and again and has a heart and soul of a true champion. Early in the interview, however, I realized that this interview was less motivating and in fact, more thought provoking than anything. And although this story was Lindsey’s, I can’t help but think of all the people that we look upon as being successful and what they have sacrificed to get there. And is it worth it?

Loneliness. I was struck by how lonely Lindsey was. She has fans coming out of the woodwork but she goes home, frequently to an empty hotel room. And sometimes it was hard to decipher peoples true intentions of getting close. Even though she had some great close friends and family, her loneliness was palatable.

The toll on her body. Here is a woman who should be in her physical prime. Just 34 years of age and she can no longer jump due to bone on bone injury in her knee. She is 34 and can’t jump! And she can’t run. She is already having to change up her workout routine to accommodate for her body, her injuries. Her many, many injuries.

Depression. This one probably hit me the hardest. With the injuries, pressure, stress and loneliness I guess it only makes sense that there would be a high level of depression. But she is THE most bad ass skier on the planet! Maybe the best in history and she has been on medication for depression for over 15 years. With depression on the rise in general it shouldn’t be all that surprising but it just goes to show that ultimate success will not ward off the evil clutches of depression.

Now this is MY take away from this interview I heard today. And this is just a snippet into someones life. This is Lindsey’s life that I am just privy to a very, very, very tiny part of. But I did finish up this interview feeling sad for those who sacrifice so much and don’t even seem to be happy in the end. Maybe the thrill seeking, extra competitive, adrenaline rushing individuals are never truly happy because there is always more out there to conquer, to accomplish and to seek out. Maybe they are pushing for other peoples agendas, approval and love. Maybe it’s a bit of both.

As a mom, my hope is that my children are happy, healthy and successful. On their terms. I wish that for all the people I love. I’m not sure the cost of success was worth it.

Blah Blah Life

My children are superstars. Yes they are.

Are they elite athletes, no. Are they genius scholars, no. Are they future musical prodigies, doesn’t look like it. Are they happy, seems so. Are they caring, most of the time. Are they thoughtful, most days.

They are normal kids. They are getting swept up, like we all do, in peoples highlight reels. The Facebook filter. The instagram perfect photos. Okay, maybe they aren’t and only I am… The real world is not social media. I remind myself of this on days that I feel the pull to demand more of them, to demand more of me. I remind myself of what I was doing at their ages, and it definitely wasn’t winning any Pulitzer Prize (or any grand achievement for that matter). It was playing in the woods, swimming in the river, riding my horses, playing in the play ground. Those are the things I remember.

So when you see everyone’s highlight reels of kids holding up trophies, their grand expeditions, their exotic travels and their other various accolades. Remember that most of us are living normal lives, with normal kids, having fun in the woods and playing in the stream. And that’s enough. In fact, it’s more than enough.

Life joyfully.