First reaction? I chuckled. Second reaction? I remembered teenaged-me that time I placed fourth in ALL four high school track and field events, including the hurdles (which had four participants that year, ha). This aptly defines my youth sports career trajectory. Think flatline, ha.
I don't know about you, but it may not be a surprise then that I do not identify with any of these hurdlers. Sure, it's a dopamine party to WIN, but I don't ever win...well, except for that drawing contest in Grade 2 and I'm still confused and conflicted about that. Anyway, although I (almost) never win, I feel like I've won everything. I just default to gratitude. (Thanks, Grandma.) I don't care about winning. I don't want to be first. In many cases, I don't even want to participate in the race. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'm not saying I'm not bummed when things don't go the way I'd hope, nor am I nauseatingly positive when times are tough. I just don't dwell there (anymore) and I forget to be annoyed. And to be honest, it's probably unhealthy that I expect to be disappointed, but I can always outwit that feeling by cheering someone else on. Nor do I have low expectations for myself and others. I am not saying that achieving excellence isn't important. It is; I just don't care to compete.
My third reaction? This brilliant cartoon is an entire story. What happened during the race?! Who is this smiling overgrown toddler? Did he cheat? If you're certain he cheated, consider that in hurdles there are apparently multiple ways to be disqualified: lane violations, obstructing others, deliberately knocking down the hurdles, going around or under the hurdles.... Hilariously, he wasn't disqualified, so couldn't one argue he's just both fast and clumsy?
But for me this cartoon is next level because of the obstacles. In addition to his medal, he's proudly wearing the obstacles. He's antifragile, and those others on the podium? More than the win, isn't that what they really need to succeed?
Dear friends, I do not wish obstacles in your path, but I know you will encounter them, so when they occur may I suggest you be neither an optimist nor a pessimist—not even a medalist—but instead continue Sisyphus-ing your way up that hill: be an obstacalist. If you ask me, language like this is a lifeboat.
I was that kid that was always picked last for sports teams in school, and then they argued over who would be stuck with me. So good for my self esteem. Turns out I would have done much better at track and field but by then I was put off sports and Phys ed all together.
ReplyDeleteI went off to college and discovered I am very competitive but with marks. I loved exams and I did very well. Way back when there were provincial nursing exams, I was in the top two for marks.
Then I discovered race walking in my 40's and became very competitive and loved it. I didn't care if I won but I enjoyed competing.
As for obstacles, I know a thing or two about them:)