Simone Biles

Oh it would seem that everyone has an opinion on Simone Biles.
Simone Biles' decision on competing or not competing in the team portion of the gymnastic competition has not had any impact on my life and so I am perfectly okay with her deciding what is in her own best interest--even if she just didn't feel like it.

From all of the negative comments posted about her decision, it would appear that many people are personally invested in her and have been hurt by her not competing. 
It's funny how we can be concerned with the abusive training that many child athletes are put through (gymnasts in particular) on one hand, and then be critical of the decision that a grown-ass woman makes about her own well-being on the other.

Remember Eleanor Roosevelt's famous quote --
"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people."
Think about that while you carry on your conversations today.
You can talk about Simone Biles.
You can talk about the Olympics.
Or you can talk about the idea that mental health (and injury) is as important as physical health for athletic performance or day to day coping.

Sure--somedays we have to carry on even when we are hurting. We have to care for kids when we're sick or go to work when we hate our job, but are we going to sit in judgment of someone that decides that they are going to exercise some self-care and not perform for our -- entertainment?

Remember my philosophy I shared yesterday?
Never accept criticism from a person you wouldn't go to for advice.
Don't be too surprised if the greatest gymnast of our time doesn't give a F#*k about what you think of her decision.
Neither do I.

John