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On Wednesdays, we’ll reflect: See below for some some of what I’ve learned from the week to inspire reflection. 🙂
W.I.L.T.W (What I Learned This Week)
“I’m not the dad and I’m not the coach.”
I think this is the most feel good story from the olympics… Rich Ruohonen. He just became the oldest American to compete in a Winter Olympics at age 54. Ruohonen is a personal injury lawyer in Minnesota, but he spent decades chasing a lifelong dream on the curling ice. He finally made his Olympic debut this month in Milan. His story is such a refreshing reminder that the timeline we often impose on our ambitions is largely a self-constructed barrier.
The quote I pulled above is a masterful way of rejecting a projected role. People see his age and immediately try to "shelf" him into a category they understand: the parent or the supporter on the sidelines. By stating he is neither the dad nor the coach, Ruohonen is refusing to be aged out.
He is signaling that his decades of experience haven't moved him to the sidelines; they have simply made him a more seasoned peer. It is a powerful reminder that you don’t have to transition into the background just because you’ve gained seniority. You can be the veteran and the active competitor at the same time, claiming your status as a participant rather than a spectator.
There is a profound importance in maintaining a stubborn belief in yourself, even when your dreams seem to fall outside the standard window of possibility. No pursuit is too wild if you are willing to navigate the sacrifices required to get there.
Ruohonen proved that perseverance isn't just about waiting for a turn. It is about staying ready and keeping your skills sharp enough so that when the opportunity finally arrives, you aren't just watching from the sidelines.
We often think we have to choose between our professional stability and our deepest passions, but sometimes the most fulfilling path is found in refusing to settle for just one identity.
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