In 2012, Spanish athlete Ivan Fernandez Anaya impressed the world by giving up victory to do the right thing. According to El Pais, it happened as the 24-year-old raced a cross-country event in Burlada, Navarre on December 2nd.
In second place to Abel Mutai, the Kenyan athlete who won a bronze medal in the London Olympics, Anaya suddenly had a chance to surge ahead. According to El Pais, Mutai mistakenly thought the end of the race came about 10 meters sooner than it did, and stopped running.
Then, he “looked back and saw the people telling him to keep going,” Anaya told CNA. “But since he doesn’t speak Spanish he didn’t realize it.” So Anaya slowed, guiding Mutai to the actual finish line.
When asked why he did it, he said, “I didn’t deserve to win it. I did what I had to do. He was the rightful winner. He created a gap that I couldn’t have closed if he hadn’t made a mistake. As soon as I saw he was stopping, I knew I wasn’t going to pass him…
“I didn’t do this for him or me I did this for all of us.”
Imagine if we lived our lives like this. Thinking of the bigger picture and how we are all connected. Now I am not saying healthy competition is wrong, in fact, I think it is a good thing for all of us to learn, however, this man shined a light on our goodness. And boy do we all need to be reminded of this now.
Work With Barbara
We are nearing the midpoint between the Summer Solstice and the Fall Equinox. Traditionally this is a time to give thanks to The Goddess for the harvest (watch my video on Lammas on IG this Friday) and then focus on all the things you can do – and all of the things you'd like to learn to do, and the things you'd like to get better at.
Set up a reading or a ritual to get clear on what wants to come through you at this time and what action steps you require to manifest this new vision.
Many Blessings,
Barbara