When it comes to competition, I am not one of those “everyone’s a winner” kinds of people. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. That’s what competition is all about — winning and losing. It’s always more fun, more satisfying, when you win. But that’s not real life.
Growing up, I tended to shy away from sports. Why? I was afraid I’d lose — maybe even embarrass my team in the process. Reality was, I would have lost. But think of how many wins I missed out on!
But my kiddos have taught me over and over again that it’s about giving your all — your best — and being satisfied with that. Each one of my children has gotten involved in sports to one degree or another: swimming, soccer, horseback riding, martial arts (which I actually did for a few years — ask me how I met my husband!) … and now my youngest daughter is playing club volleyball.
I keep replaying in my head something she shared with me after a recent tournament. Here’s what her team said: We’re having more fun even though we’re losing than the other team is having — and they’re winning!
They were giving it their best out there on the court — and having fun! I would call that a win, wouldn’t you?
In Your Words: When has a win for you not equaled first place? And why was it a win?
[Tweet “When a win doesn’t equal first place #lifequotes #competition”] [Tweet “Wins and Losses and Being the Best #competition #inotherswords”]
Comments 5
Right now, every day’s a win, because losing means being dead.
But in general, I look at winning this way – always find an excuse to win. There is always one more thing you can do.
And this helps…it was written by a curator at the national Air and Space Museum, on restoring airplanes. But it applies to life in general, as well…
What we can’t use, we’ll restore.
What we can’t restore, we’ll build.
What we can’t build, we’ll buy.
What we can’t buy, we’ll have donated.
We we can’t have donated, we’ll steal.
Last line…
What we can’t have donated, we’ll steal.
Fingers fast, brain glacial.
Great post, Beth. I loved sports when I was a girl, and even through intramural in college. I loved the challenge of putting my best effort out there. I wasn’t a superstar, but I held my own, and that felt good.
A win is definitely more about putting forth your best effort, but not being so focused on defeating all comers that you lose the joy in what you’re doing. I’m trying to teach our boys this as well. A win for me is watching our guys put forth their best effort, and still being able to say, “I enjoyed this” even when they don’t win. Win for me because they’re learning what we’re trying to teach them ( 😉 ), and a win for them because they are developing a good mindset about playing, winning and competing.
Uh, Jeanne?
Your blog?
You ARE a superstar. Not kidding. I don’t kid around about that stuff.
😀