Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Can you win by losing?

     We all know the "tough guy" cliches about winning and losing. "Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser." "Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing." etc. etc. Read the sports magazines and newspapers and you'll hear more tough guy talk about winning and losing. They'll feature the hockey fights and show the bloodied, humiliated losers. But if you ask me, those people are the real losers.
     As if the most important thing in life was winning. Tiger Woods talks about "stepping on an opponent's throat." Business executives talk about "kill or be killed."
     This post of mine is no advertisement for losing, but it is a call for sanity, dignity and a change of perspective.
     What's really important in life? That's the key question. The people who think winning at all costs is have a puny perspective on life. One day they will lose their athletic or business or whatever prowess. One day they will get sick. One day they will be on their death bed. Then how important will winning at all costs be? Then they will finally have perspective as to what really matters in life forced upon them. 
     This from writer T.E. Lawrence:

There could be no honor in a success, but much might be wrested from a sure defeat.

     Haven't we all witnessed that? The person gracious in defeat. The person maintaining their perspective on what's important in defeat. The person more concerned with his opponent's dignity than with numbers on a score board. People like that are winners in LIFE. And isn't that the most important arena to win in?

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