Losing Well

As an aspiring tennis player I'm well versed in losing. After a horrendous streak of losing, similar to my dear football club Chelsea, I'm questioning the merits of trying and coming up short a little too often.

When losing seems to be the trend, especially if you have team mates that depend on you, some self reflection is needed. Are you unrealistic about your talent? Are you mentally up to this? What the HF are you doing with your life?!

Losers learn! Is this the most patronizing statement you can ever hear? Do we want to punch the person delivering it? Undoubtedly! However, if your ego can please take a seat and zip it, it's a valuable statement. Your mind, however, has to be open. An ego has no place in an open mind. It simply struts around in it's smoking jacket, eyes elevated to the ceiling, a smirk hovering around it's mouth.

Understanding and admitting that others may have more ability is essential. Committing to improve at something you enjoy is all yours! That's the joy of improving and being a learner.

It may be a human flaw to compare ourselves to others, but, to be frank, we should have shelved this crap in our teens. We all have strengths that others don't, strengths that even the most glorified in our society don't possess.

I'm referencing my 'old friends' again. Knowing them in my teens, and knowing them in my late fifties ( not quite 60, as Fleur likes to point out), I like to think I understand better why I would be drawn to them. I see those same qualities in my less old friends. Every person I know and love have qualities that excel and amaze. In short, we are an amazing and winning species.

What we lose at this age are things that don't serve. There should be no losing culture at 60. I might lose at tennis, but I will also win. And what defines the win will be the bonds over a game that is tough, competitive but also fun, which is pretty much how life should be.