On being a winner

ON BEING A WINNER I HAVE THREE POINTS FOR YOU TO REFLECT OVER. FIRSTLY – LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I ENJOY WINNING AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COMPETITIVE. NOW YOU WOULD HAVE OFTEN HEARD THE PHRASE – ‘MAKE WINNING A HABIT’- AND ITS DEFINITELY ENCOURAGING AND MOTIVATIONAL. FOR CENTURIES, PARENTS HAVE CELEBRATED AND BEEN ECSTATIC WHEN THEIR CHILDREN HAVE WON ANYTHING – BE IT A SACK RACE ON SPORTS DAY, A POETRY, PAINTING, SINGING OR DANCE COMPETITION OR AN ACADEMIC PRIZE. ITS ALL GOOD . HOWEVER HERE IS THE POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. THE MORE YOU WIN; THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO FACE A LOSS- BOTH FOR THE CHILD AND THE PARENTS. NOW DON’T GET ME WRONG – I AM NOT AGAINST WINNING - ITS GREAT - BUT I AM ALL FOR WINNERS CONDITIONING THEIR MINDS TO FACE A LOSS- AS AND WHEN IT HAPPENS- AND MARK MY WORDS – IT WILL. THAT IS LIFE AND THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. IT WILL BE VERY RARE IF THERE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT FACED A LOSS OR A FAILURE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE. I HAVE AND I WAS RATHER BROKEN. BUT I SHOOK MYSELF OUT OF THAT PHASE AND MOVED ON – UPWARD AND FORWARD. I AM NO SUPERMAN – FAR FROM IT, BUT I HAD NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE. HOWEVER SMART, HOWEVER INTELLIGENT. HOWEVER DILIGENT YOU ARE, YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT YOU WILL NOT ALWAYS COME OUT A WINNER. THAT TOP OF THE PODIUM FINISH, THAT GOLD MEDAL CAN OFTEN ELUDE YOU AND IT MAY NOT EVEN BE YOUR FAULT. THERE WILL BE LOSSES, FAILURES, DISAPPOINTMENTS, FRUSTRATION, ANGER, REGRETS AND TEARS. SO - YOU DID NOT GET INTO THE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY YOU SET YOUR HEART ON. YOU DID NOT GET THE MARKS YOU EXPECTED IN SOME EXAMINATION, YOU DIDN’T GET THE PRIZE, THE JOB, THE POSITION , THE PROMOTION, THE LADY YOU LOVED , THE REWARD YOU WORKED SO HARD FOR . THAT IS THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION. IN THIS WORLD OF CUTTHROAT COMPETITION, WHERE LIFE IS OFTEN UNFAIR AND THINGS DO NOT GO AS PER PLAN, PUPILS AND PARENTS MUST SIT DOWN AND TALK THIS MATTER OVER. WHAT IF? THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY SAD AND DEPRESSING STORIES OF WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN PUPILS AND ADULTS SUFFERED A SET BACK IN AN EXAMINATION OR IN LIFE, AND COULD NOT TAKE THE STRAIN. BEING PREPARED IS THE KEY FOR ALL OF US. MENTAL CONDITIONING IS SOMETHING EVERY SCHOOL NEEDS TO TEACH . REMEMBER – YOU ARE NOT DEFEATED WHEN YOU FAIL – YOU ARE DEFEATED WHEN YOU QUIT. SO, PROMISE YOURSELF THAT YOU WILL NEVER BE A QUITTER, BECAUSE QUITTING IS FOR THE FAINTHEARTED. IF AND WHEN YOU LOSE - YOU NEED MENTAL STRENGTH, EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE AND THE DETERMINATION TO PICK YOURSELF UP, DUST YOURSELF OFF AND TRY AGAIN. NEED I ADD THAT AT TIMES SUCH AS THESE, PARENTAL SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING IS CRUCIAL. UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS HAVE HAD CATASTROPHIC ENDINGS AS WELL. SECONDLY – WINNERS ARE SPECIAL PEOPLE AND THEY FULLY DESERVE THE ACCOLADES AND REWARDS. HOWEVER, WINNERS AND CHAMPIONS DON’T JUST SHOW UP & TAKE EVERYTHING THEY CAN – THEY SHOW UP AND GIVE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE. ARE YOU WILLING AND READY TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND GIVE? INTELLIGENT WINNERS MUST ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE MAGNANIMOUS, EMPATHETIC, KIND, HELPFUL AND DOWN TO EARTH. THEY MUST SHOW GRATITUDE, STRIVE TO LEND A HELPING HAND, SHARE ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE, DO GOOD WHEREVER AND WHENEVER THEY CAN, AND PUT PRIDE AND PREJUDICES ASIDE. THIS WORLD CAN DEFINITELY DO WITH INTELLIGENT, COMPASSIONATE LEADERS. NEED I SAY MORE?! LASTLY – DON’T ALWAYS STRIVE TO COMPETE WITH OTHERS. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IN LIFE SHOULD BE TO REALLY REACH DEEP DOWN, WITHIN THE DEPTHS OF YOUR OWN BEING, MUSTER ALL THE STRENGTH , COURAGE AND DETERMINATION WITHIN YOU, AND COMPETE AGAINST YOURSELF . LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT BEING BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE – ITS MORE ABOUT BEING BETTER THAN YOU WERE BEFORE