It happened when I saw Nastia Liuken on the uneven bars. Sitting in my living room, I was watching a gymnast thousands of miles away explore and stretch the limits of the human body and mind. I cannot fully express the epiphany I came to at that moment. Something inside of me told me to stand up, to run, swim, row — something — anything, because I could not remain idle and simply watch another person’s spirit overflow from the confines of her body. That had to be me, too. I needed to experience it.

Then, only seconds later, as I was reaching for my running shoes, the commercials. And thus I found the source of the athletes’ physical abilities. A heavenly choir sung in ambiance as my face turned slowly toward the TV, golden light radiating from its screen. So this is how they get their strength, I thought. That is how they become so fast and agile. I must buy one, too. I must buy a McChicken sandwich.