by Akhilesh Mittal

Created on: March 18, 2009   Last Updated: March 20, 2009

What connects Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis. Both are top athletes who excelled for excellence in 100m sprint and made a name for themselves. Both of them also failed drug tests.

Many of us look at athletes not only for the fun of sport but also as ideals to draw inspiration. It is their drive for excellence that makes them great and makes us look at them in that light. Pele (soccer), Michael Jordan (Basketball), Mohd Ali (Boxing), Michael Phelps (swimming) are some of the people that have excelled in various sports and are still famous today because they excelled by their own efforts. Recently, Michael Phelps came uder fire when some of his smoking photographs got released to press. I still believe in him for he accepted his mistake and promised not to repeat it in the future. If his hard work is any indicator, I believe he would keep this promise the same way he kept an unsaid promise about making olympic history.

Our kids also need their own heroes and it is important for us as parents that we ensure that our kids know the difference between right and wrong. Drive for excellence and so is the spirit to compete. But where does one draw a line when it becomes only about winning? We still need to have high morals and belief in ourselves to be able to deliver rather than taking refuge in drugs that harms us in the long run. All these arguments are good for adults, for we are logical people and can reason with these arguments. But is there a better way to explain our kids the dark effects of drugs?

A couple of ways, I think can make a lasting impact on their minds,

(A)Talk about Real Winners

Talk to the kids about real life stories of people who worked hard to make a name for themselves. In current times, Michael Phelps is one such athlete whom a lot of kids admire and would connect to. Don't hesitate to even discuss stories about legends like Mohd Ali. It will make them learn the virtue of hard work.

(B) All's not about winning

It is more important to compete than to focus just on winning. Winning makes you good but a spirit to participate makes you great. It is important to have goals in life and winning can be one of them, but it is also important to learn what is the correct way to achieve those goals. If we become over-obsessed with winning, then we lose sight of the means to achieve the end.

(C) Drugs are harmful and addictive

Any object that make you its slave is not good. Drugs are addictive and once you use them, you will need to do them again and again. Drugs convert you into something what you are not and destroys not only you but your whole family.

If our kids understand why some athletes take drugs and why it is bad to use drugs then they will be well informed in not only selecting the correct ideal for them but also in saying NO to Drugs.

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