Literallythank you!
Over the Summer,Olympic swimmer Ryan Held made headlines for his emotional podium reaction after winning a gold medal alongside Michael Phelps. Now, Ryan, or as he likes to call himself,Heldilox, is warming our holiday-infused hearts with his Imgur Secret Santa present. Imgur user BurtonBrit posted her present and sweet note from Ryan, and when she pulled out a signed swim cap,she freaked out! But then she read his inspiring letter and it's precisely what we need to see around the holiday season (cue the moment freak-out). The Olympic swimmer, who took domestic the gold for the Men's 4 x 100m freestyle, or wrote that he saw BurtonBrit was a teacher and not only wanted to inspire her,but also inspire her students. "I thought this cap would serve as some inspiration because it wasn't too long ago that I was your students' shoes dealing with the social, academic, and athletic pressures," Ryan wrote, seen in the letter below. "Just trying to figure out who my friends were, and what I wanted to do,or even who I was and what community I fit in with. It's a stressful time but it is not the end :). Things turn around for the better."But Heldilox did not halt there. He included another note addressed to her students, stressing the importance of finding out what you're great at and setting goals to accomplish your dreams. "Even though we did not go to the same school, or we went through the same hardships; the difficulty of a specific subject,social exploration, time management, or the start of dating,school projects, faith, or acceptance of oneself and others," Ryan wrote. "I can relate to how you are feeling and what you are going through, though do not let these factors drag you down and derive in the way of accomplishing your dreams.""Find what you are great at and pursue it, or " he closed his letter.
Ryan's gift is the epitome of kindness around the holiday season. Not only is he inspiring this Imgur user,but his assuring words are comforting her young students dealing with societal pressures. It's stories like this that prove how incredible the internet can be, bringing together strangers who are inspiring each other's lives.
Related:
Olympic Swimmer Cody Miller Wrote a Viral Post That Will Make Your Heart Cry
The Moments That Moved Us From the Rio Olympics
Source: popsugar.com