I’ve seen poor losers … and I’ve seen poor winners, too.
I’m not impressed when people sulk when they lose a game. I feel bad for a team when their coach is a poor loser and yells at them … or worse, walks away from them.
I also don’t respect poor winners. You know what I mean: those people who gloat, who act like of course they should have won and you should have lost. And who act as if their winning make them better than you.
Celebrating a win is one thing — and one of my favorite moments to capture on the volleyball court is a moment of celebration. But boasting or bragging in such a way that you mock your opponent is blatant poor sportsmanship.
Winning and losing is all part of the game, no matter what sport you play. And winning and losing happens in all sorts of ways all through life. How we carry ourselves through our winning and losing moments reveals who were are without the trappings of a score or an award — an external evaluation that reveals our heart.
In Others’ Words:Â What helps you accept both winning and losing with grace?
In others' Words: Win or Lose ... Like It! https://wp.me/p63waO-2Bh #quotes #competition Click To Tweet 'Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change.' quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson https://wp.me/p63waO-2Bh #sports #winorlose Click To Tweet
Comments 16
At the end of the game, the king and the pawn both go into the same box.
Great comment!
Thanks, Delores!
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Love this perspective, Andrew!
That made made me laugh out loud, Andrew–so true.
I’ve never thought about it that way. 🙂
One benefit of age is realizing that there is a long road of ups and downs marking the road to the life destination that defines our character. The journey and each individual win or loss has meaning, but who we are as a person at the end of the day is what matters most.
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Love your insight, Dee!
This is quite a challenge for me!! Most of the time, I sulk if I did not win. I’m a bad loser–when I do win, I’ll know what kind of winner I am. 🙂
This is a character trait I need to cultivate.
This post came in handy.
Thanks for a wonderful post, Beth(as always)!!
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Odelia:
I’m glad this post made you think.
Being around volleyball so much right now, I see so many types of winners and losers — both coaches and players.
Oh, very well. If no one else will do it, it’s up to me, and thus (drum roll) here’s Abba with ‘Waterloo’, and the immortal line,
“I feel like I win when I lose.”
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🙂
Thanks for the musical interlude, Andrew!
Loved this, Beth. When it comes to games (i.e. those played on family game night), I’ve come to the place where I play to enjoy my guys and spend time with them. My boys, however, are still learning how to win, and lose graciously.
When it comes to winning and losing in other areas of life, I’ve learned to thank God when things go well. When they don’t . . . I’m learning to accept that, ultimately, the Lord directs my steps. Even when they lead to disappointment.
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Oh, family game nights … sometimes I play to win, but it’s always, always about fun and laughter and you know what? Winning and losing is pretty much equal there because I’m enjoying the people I’m with.
Yes and amen!
In the big picture of life, if I lose something I have my heart set on, it isn’t in God’s plan for me right now. And I know he has something better in mind.
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Pat: And that is the best, right perspective …