The Value of Losing

My son has participated in a competition called "Future Problem Solving" as a part of the "gifted" program in our school system for the past 6 years. My daughter, now a college student, and my son have learned immeasurable skills as a result of their involvement with this program. Each has been on teams who have gone on to compete in International Competitions (the highest level) and they've both placed in the top levels there. My point is, my son is used to winning.

Too used to winning as it turns out. He's been a part of the same team for all of the years of his involvement. This year, the team turned down several opportunities to practice. Their decision, in part, was based on a complacency of their skills and talents and a definite over-confidence in their ability to "sweep" the competition.

I believe it is easy for us all to gain an over-confidence in areas of our lives. For these kids, this choice turned out to be one that lead to their not even placing in the top 5 groups in their categories. They were are deeply disappointed and surprised. Their failure to obtain a place in the International competion was the addition of one word in their writing: fair. Quite a coincidence.

While enjoying ice cream on the way home, one of the team members stated that perhaps they SHOULD have practiced. Perhaps their absence of practice was a factor in their "failure" (as they saw it). Well, YEAH!

To me, that revelation alone made the experience far more valuable than it would have been if they'd won. I'm actually very happy then, that they lost.

What did they learn? They learned that if you want to remain at the top you have to work at it.
Life is like that, isn't it? What a fortunate lesson to learn at this young age. Hopefully, it will be a lesson that they will never forget. A successful life takes effort. We can't rest and take what we've achieved for granted. If we do, we stand a great chance of falling. The way down can be brutal.