What the Tour de France Can Teach Us About Life

Theme Song: Charlie Parker’s “Summertime” while watching the Tour de France.

Projects: More lesson planning, lots of writing, lots of editing, and some graphic design!

I don’t know how many people have been watching the Tour de France, but it’s something I’ve had on in the background while working this week. I have to say, that watching it is a phenomenon. The most interesting part of the race is all the people who stand on the sidelines and cheer the riders on.  I’ve got to say, there are some interesting costumes on – I saw a guy with an executioner’s hood, a guy in a bikini, and many people dressed in capes. While watching I’ve come to the following conclusions.

1. No matter what goes on in life, no matter how hard it seems, what matters is finishing the race. Some of these guys have no way of winning, but they are peddling their hearts out anyway. I’d like think if they allowed women to participate and I were somehow able to do such a thing, I’d finish the race too. I can’t remember who it was that I read, but they had expressed similar sentiments – what’s important is finishing the race.
2. Everybody needs those folks who run after you clapping and cheering you on, no matter what you’re doing. They recognize the hard work you’ve done and they applaud where you’re going. I’m blessed to have a bunch of cheering folks in my life.
3. Sometimes it’s determination, and not speed, that gets people to the end of the race. That’s the interesting thing about races. They go back to prove that whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right – something I’ve mentioned elsewhere on this site.

I’m pretty sure there are more “life lessons” that can be taken from watching the Tour de France. Are you watching this event? What lessons did you pick out?