The Olympic Games in Paris are heating up the summer even more! Whether you're a dedicated runner who loves long-distance marathons or a fan of skateboarding in back alleys, there's a sport for everyone to get excited about.
I was struck by an NPR story about the Refugee Olympic Team in this year’s Games. They first competed in Rio in 2016, tripled in size in Japan in 2020, and are even bigger this year. Imagine the challenges they’ve faced just to get to the Olympics. When you don’t have a stable life or a safe place to live, what kind of grit does it take to train and excel in a sport? It’s incredible. I’m also amazed at how inclusive the Olympics have become—not just more sports, but more diverse participants.
I often find myself as the only Asian or person of color in many settings, especially in business. Living in Vermont, the second-whitest state in the country, makes me stand out like a pineapple in a basket of apples. However, it’s important to represent a small group of people. When it rains, everyone gets wet. When the pandemic hit, it affected everybody. I want to show people that by working hard and making smart decisions, everyone, regardless of skin color, can make a difference in the world.
Since day one, we've offered “kids’” styles instead of “boys’” or “girls’” styles. Not only because boys' and girls' body shapes aren't that different at an early age, but also to open up color choices to all kids. Why not let a girl wear an army green jacket if she wants to? And it’s totally fine for a boy to wear pink pants—pink is trendy! Sometimes it’s us adults who set unnecessary boundaries that limit kids’ imagination and choices. We welcome all kids to our brand and hope they enjoy all the bright colors we offer.
Yes, it’s hard to run a business, and it’s very hard to compete in the Olympics, but we need to keep working hard to show that everyone is worthy of being noticed and celebrated. We need to make the tent bigger so more people—the quieter ones, the vulnerable ones, the younger ones—feel comfortable and confident trying new things and excelling in different fields.
Claire