Winning Isn't Everything, But Trying Is

Quote of the day: “When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there.” —Zig Ziglar; motivational author, speaker

If you’re a beloved Syracuse men’s basketball fan, today’s quote couldn’t have come at a better time. You see, our highly talented Orange men suffered a loss in today’s quarterfinal game against Georgetown in the BIG EAST Conference Tournament. This was the third time these two teams have met this season and Syracuse had a 2-0 advantage. Today’s loss hurts because it’s a loss to one of our greatest rivals and knocks us out of the conference tournament (even though we won the regular-season title), but more importantly, one of the starting players on our wondrous team went down with an injury. This is where the loss can become a tragedy.

A week from today Syracuse will play in its first game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Orange began the season with minimal expectations from fans, media and opponents. Early on in the season, it became very clear that this team had talent, teamwork and, most of all, promise. They’ve provided promise all season of a National Championship. Today’s loss doesn’t really affect their chances in the national tournament, but the injury could be devastating.

Regardless, the show must go on. The team will play and the quest for another National Championship will continue. As Zig Ziglar so eloquently stated, “When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there.”

One doesn’t have to be a fan of sports to appreciate what it is like to care about a group of kids as they strive to be the best they can be. Their triumphs become our triumphs and their losses become our losses. Funny enough, it is in the losses that I begin to feel the love I have for these players…love for their togetherness, love for their teamwork, love for their camaraderie and love for their hope of success. When you watch them play week after week, giving all that they got, you can only hope they will be rewarded in the end.

The truth is, they are being rewarded along the way, as are the fans. Even though the illustrious championship trophy would be the epitome of external success, it does not represent all what was gained internally.

Sports can often be used as another metaphor for life. We may always be striving to live our greatest life as if we’re vying for the esteemed trophy, but in the end, it’s really just about giving our best effort each and every day. Sometimes our best that day may not be enough. We may come up short. But even when we do, come up short, at least we were there TO come up short…At least we were there…At least we tried.

All life asks of us is to show up. To try and give it a chance. If we never give something a chance, then we’re not living. We’re then stuck in the past, for the past is the only thing known.

I’m giving my Self a chance to see what I can be without the commitment to be and do something else. I may come up short, but at least I can be honest with myself in that I tried.

P.S. -- My stomach is feeling much, much better today.