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.) Loser? Sure. Sore? Nope. 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 special because of the obstacles. In addition to his medal, he's proudly wearing those obstacles. He's unflappable. 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 that can be 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:)
Exactly, Pixie. We have to find what's worth competing for, and much of the competing is with ourselves, aiming for our own high expectations, that internal locus of control. Yes you've certainly face more than your fair share of obstacles, but you've faced them and inspired the rest of us.
DeleteI remember a Japanese (I think?) video entitled life is a race/marathon and I had to watch it until the end to get the message. Life isn't a race or a marathon. It's not a competition and you can "run" where you want and how you want. This cartoon reminds me of that. I've got obstacles galore at the moment and they're hanging heavy on my neck.
ReplyDeleteThey've been heavy around my neck too and I certainly wasn't smiling like this character. Yours are particularly heavy and require a team. Keep going.
DeleteThe guy won because he still has all his obstacles with him and is still functioning. A life lesson we can all learn from.
ReplyDeleteOr, he's clumsy and awkward and not really sure what the task was supposed to be but he tried anyway.
Also a life lesson we can learn from.
Ha, so well said. Insert fist bump here.
DeleteIn school, I was always picked third last for sports teams. Believe it or not, there were two unfortunate saps who were even worse athletes than me. But I was always picked first for spelling bee teams. Hey, we all have our strengths and weaknesses, lol.
ReplyDeleteYes to spelling bees! (Me too.) That's the truth and thank you for sharing this.
DeleteI had to click on the photo to see what it was depicting. I think we all bump a long in life doing our best or something approximating that. I have won two events in my life: a teachers table tennis tournament at our school, and a chess tournament with only about five other competitors.
ReplyDeleteGreat examples, AC. A rewarding life isn't about the awards or rewards.
DeleteI enjoyed the cartoon, and could relate to the second- and third-place winners, who looked annoyed because they followed the rules and the person who won didn't.
ReplyDeleteHa, yes, well said. There's a lot in this cartoon about rule-following too.
DeleteI'm one of those odd balls who has never had any interest in sports. Both as a participant or a spectator.
ReplyDeleteNot odd at all, just not typically discussed among men. (You're not alone.)
DeleteI'm afraid I've never been big into sports although I've had life challenges to deal with. My husband is definitely into sports and our daughter and son take after him 100% in that direction. Our son signed up for another marathon in Kenya and Arrrghh! He fell off his bike on the way to do a practice run. He broke 3 ribs and badly cut and scratched his arms. I wish he would just walk like me and be content.
ReplyDeleteOh yikes, that's dedication. Some folks are so uplifted by sports, I can't help but cheer them on from the sidelines.
DeleteLike Pixie, I was always the kid picked last. I remember my PE teacher would always do a "schoolyard pick" for teams, and inevitably I would be the last one picked. And it did hurt at times. I have never really been a competitive person, and I have never really been someone who just has to win. When I became an adult, I started running. I entered races and had a lot of fun. I never came in first, but I was never last either. I competed against myself, trying to better my time from the last 10K race that I had done. When I was teaching elementary school, and it was recess, I never had captains pick the teams. I always did, and it was completely random. My childhood memories were still there, and I didn't want any kid feeling the way I did.
ReplyDeleteYour approach to running sounds similar to mine, not that I've been a consistent runner over the years, but as a introvert, I prefer to exercise on my own. I didn't want kids feeling that way either and I was always so proud of the PE teachers who did not allow students to make their own teams. Flexible grouping ftw.
Deleteits been a long long time since I've run in any races but it reminds me of school, I literally hated running ugh, mostly because I was an awkward child, I would've rather had my head in a book.
ReplyDeleteLike many kids who feel awkward (relatable), I suspect that most of your classmates had no idea you felt that way. It's good to gain perspective on childhood notions. I'm a big fan of some life-changing questions we can ask ourselves: Is that true? What if it weren't true? And so on....
DeleteSports are mostly a snore for me. I could not care less about who wins a particular game (until I do…like if a local team makes to the Super Bowl or World Series…then I kind of care). I like that you don’t feel terribly competitive. Me too, I would rather go for a walk (or a jog back in my youth) with a friend than try to race them.
ReplyDeleteGetting caught up on blog reading after being out of town…congrats on good election results!
I guess there's more of us than I thought? And yes to our election results. Phew.
DeleteI hated sports when I was a kid. The only sport in high school that I actually liked was Archery. I was good at that one.
ReplyDeleteMy spouse loves archery! She's really good at it too (and various other sports too).
DeleteI'm not competitive and am happy to cheer on those who are, so long as they're not aggressive.
ReplyDeleteExactly.
DeleteI often think "that's life" when things don't go how I wanted. Easier to take it in stride, the ups & downs as we age. Or as I often repeat to myself "I'm a loser, at the top of my game". Tom Petty.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard that lyric before! It inspires. Thanks.
DeleteI was a 'join in coz I had to' kind of sports person at school. There was no choice and consequently was always deemed the lame duck due to the fact I am not sporty in any way. You can imagine what that does for a kid's self esteem. ANy hoo - now, I don't care, as long as the 'playing field' is fair and square and those who compete do it honestly and with grace, then the rest of us mere mortals can choose to cheer them on or wander off and look at the daisies (which is me).
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts (initial) that the central character harkens to a trumpesque moment ....... Just me?
I like daisies too. Oh, yikes...I hadn't thought about the protagonist that way; I try not to think about that orange shitpile. I was thinking more loveable oaf, but that's a fair analysis. Sigh...his stink seeps into everything doesn't it?
DeleteWhat I do enjoy about an obstacle is how overcoming and even thriving through it, is a very cool thing.
ReplyDeleteNeato on the art contest! Why were you confused? I was in fourth grade when I won because there were these two twins that drew this logical sorta art work and I was like eh I'm not gonna win but I'm gonna have fun drawing cartoons. Then they called my name and I was like, huh? The twins didn't win. I did?
"Thriving through" well said. Insert fist bump here.
DeleteI was confused because I did not know I entered the contest (?) or maybe I remember drawing something my teacher wanted to keep (?) and when I won, I could not remember which drawing it was as I tended to draw a lot during in those early years of school. Sometimes I would ask my teacher if I could take paper home. I think kids understand a "colouring contest" but not as much a drawing contest. In your example, I agree; I think that by grade 4 I would have better comprehended the situation.