Winning is a reward,
an achievement. But if all you’re thinking about is that finish line, you might
lose the important lessons that were gained in the process.
Winning is important!
It’s something visible, a benchmark that teaches us and others about our effort
and dedication. But if all you’re looking at is that finish line, you might be ignoring
the amazing ride that got you there.
Reflecting back on when
I was a middle-distance runner, I now recognize that every race was not simply an
opportunity to stand on the podium. It was a lesson in perseverance, teamwork, and
self-improvement. My brothers and I trained with a competitive spirit that was not
about defeating one another but challenging ourselves. We were part of a group
of people who came together to build our city’s track club. Every practice session,
predawn morning jog, and training session as well as every loss or victory, helped
determine our attitudes. It was only later, when I looked back, that I realized true
victory was not in the win, but in the discipline, the improvement step by step,
and the knowledge accumulated along the way. We did not celebrate when we lost, but
we used the defeat to help us improve as a team and individually and those smarter
than I realized that the strength we had developed while losing, both individually
and as a team, made us stronger.
Being a champion was
not easy, in softball, it took five years to clinch the provincial championship.
Each season, regardless of the scoreboard, taught us valuable lessons about resilience,
trust, and the importance of enjoying the game. Similarly, my time as a linesman
in minor league football, being part of a Canadian championship team, reminded me
that success isn’t just defined by that final win but by the shared journey that
brought us together.
Sports and motivation
studies will tell you that winning is definitely gratifying, but the process of
seeking excellence creates enduring satisfaction. Having a single-minded focus
on an outcome can rob you of the depth in incremental daily improvement and learning.
Instead, setting process-type goals, like improving your skills, building endurance,
or even learning a difficult play, will be more gratifying and long-term in nature.
So, when you consider
the question of whether winning matters, you must remember that every step along
the way, every small victory or loss, is a practice in perseverance and is just
as valuable as the victory. Winning is certainly a time to rejoice, but it is the
journey, dedication to improvement at every turn, Relationships made along the way,
and the lessons you learn in winning and losing that make you who you are in the end.
As you pursue your own
quest, on the mountain or in anything, keep in mind that the path is as enjoyable
as the prize. Cherish every step in between, and you shall realize that the heart
of victory is not necessarily in the line but in every step that led you to it.
Originally Published on https://boomersnotsenior.blogspot.com/
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