What is winning for you?

Today, I was asked by a stranger: “what is winning for you?” I have to admit that the question caught me off guard, I wasn’t expecting it AT ALL, and I have never put thought to it.

I guess I don’t consider myself a winner or I don’t consider any event of my life as a “win.”

I am the type of person who does not fight for stuff; don’t get me wrong, I argue a lot, I complain a lot, I express my anger very often, but I don’t fight over a job, a grade, and that kind of thing.

I believe in working hard, making sacrifices and having an impeccable work ethic, I prefer all that to speak for myself than going neck-to-neck against an opponent, like in a competition. I guess I have never been competitive, even though I’ve been told I am. I hate competition, that’s it.

Growing up, my mom enrolled me in different extracurricular classes or lessons, swimming lessons, tennis lessons, tae kwon do (just for a week), piano lessons, etc. A lot was going on during my childhood afternoons.

I remember competing in swimming and tennis, I lost in both competitions. I think I wasn’t well prepared, I was too nervous, and I didn’t have any of my parents present during the time of the competitions… Ouch! I can’t help to feel a little bitter and hurt about it. Even my heart at this moment feels heavy.

After every lost competition, my mom would always tell me: “winning isn’t everything, competing is what matters.” A few years ago I shared that saying with a friend who told me: “that’s B.S., that’s the worst thing you could tell a person who lost.” I guess that was my mom’s way to comfort me.

So, having that background about competing and not winning, you can understand why it was kind of cumbersome to answer to the question: “what is winning for you?”

However, in that moment my mind went to the most honest and basic answer, to the real prize I get everyday that can’t compare to any trophy, medal, statue, amount of money or a million followers on Instagram. At this point in my life, winning to me is to be able to wake up, go around my day doing every task that I am supposed to do with excellence, enjoying every hour, every minute, and returning home safe and sound to my love. That feels like winning everyday, all the time!

Let’s not take for granted that we all are winners in our own unique way, maybe you win being promoted at work, being the first in your class, getting gold in the Olympics or not burning the stove when cooking, those are all victories, enjoy them and appreciate them.

Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom from Pexels https://www.pexels.com/photo/achievement-activity-adolescent-arms-347135/