Two Buddies?
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” - Vince Lombardi
Indeed! Two buddies walk side by side on our life journey. They are inseparable.
Two 7-letter words. They say so much… SUCCESS and FAILURE
It is impossible to always be successful. Humans are fallible. Failure is inevitable. The path to success is a slow and winding staircase. It is up two stairs and down one. The challenge is to learn and keep going with resilience and dedication. Failure is not the end. It is an opportunity to get closer to success.
Failure can add potent value to our existence. It invites us to reflect. I want to share a personal story with you. It is an illustration of where success resulted in failure. It is a story which taught me two life lessons which I have never forgotten. It is always a reminder of how to conduct my life. Sometimes I succeed and sadly, sometimes not.
I was 15 years old and achieving major success in my sport, tennis. In 1965 I won the most important junior provincial title in the U16/girls singles on Ellis Park. I was unseeded at that stage and not expected to win. Well, I did. I was soon the top girl’s U/16 singles player nationwide, but also 26th on the national ranking list.
My character was constructively moulded by my failure.
One year later. 1966. Same tournament. Ellis Park. First seed this time. I was overly self-assured, bordering on haughty. I thought nothing could stop me to win the title again. After all, my opponent was not really competition, I thought. Well, I was in for a major surprise.
A devastating one. I was defeated 6-2, 6-2. On reflecting back, I discovered the lessons my losing held in store for me. The first; Never be Arrogant, The second, Remain Humble at All Times. So, was my failure necessary? For sure! My character was constructively moulded by my failure.
Ralph Waldo Emerson encapsulates success in a way that resonates with me every day.
“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate the beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a better place a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
So, remember that failure and more failures hold crucial lessons for us all.
Dr.Sonia