Winning Isn't Everything. It's How You Play the Game

I heard myself say that to my son this weekend, at the end of a losing season, and I meant it.

He and his teammates are an inspiration. I’ve never experienced a group of kids who cared so much, tried so hard and just never gave up.

They remind me that it’s much more fun to go to work each day when I’m in it to “win,” always looking for ways to improve myself, my work product and the work lives of the people around me. Falling victim to a negative mentality is demoralizing and self-defeating.

It’d have been so easy for the kids this year to have given in to their losing streak, lose heart and just go through the motions. Not these boys.

They played to win even when they were being outmatched and completely overpowered.  And I was proud of their coach for helping keep them focused on the game in front of them and helping them stay competitive until the last whistle.

Needless to say, it was an emotional let down when they lost their playoff game today, a hard fought 2-1. My eyes welled up when I learned the biggest competitors were in tears in their team huddle after the game.

I wondered why it took so long for them to make it across the field for their snacks. But isn’t that the way it always is with the best competitors? They put their heart into a game and coming down from that to face a loss is painful.

I expect every one of these boys – who blossomed individually and as a team as the season progressed – to continue playing next year.

I was proud to be on the sidelines every Saturday this season – rain or shine.  And I’m a better person because of them.