Journal Entry 2013

I have had this philosophy for some time, however I haven’t written it down.

I am very competitive. From the time I was very little I liked to win. I don’t remember specific instances, but I remember being constantly angry as a child when I did not win a game. Many would look at my behavior and just say I was a very poor sport. I was a poor sport and very foolish. Probably, in my late teens or early twenties I began to see that the joy in life comes from playing the game and not the outcome of the game. Once the game is over, win or lose, the fun or enjoyment of the situation is over.

So many times in life we set goals, and goals are very important. But we focus on the goals and don’t enjoy the game. Ever since realizing this I have become much more a lover of the game. Whether it’s sports, board games or video games I try to squeeze all the enjoyment out of playing the game.

It still is hard, especially in the game of life, when the it seems the odds are against me and failure is eminent. At those times it is hard to enjoy the game. This is the point where I am tempted to, and sometimes I do, give up. We’ll it’s really not giving up I believe, I would better define it as resting. Once the resting is over and I am strong enough again to pick myself up and to try again I realized what I learned from the last attempt made me stronger, better, faster, and better at the game. And after enough playing I am able to score small victories.

What is bad and makes life and playing games hardest for me is when I lose this perspective and get mired down in the failure.

If you feeling bad, like your losing the game, take a little rest and then get back up and into the game. Because, at the end of the day, the fun is in the playing the game.

My grandfather DeVere tells of some wisdom that his father gave to him. When situations looked bleak Harry Robinson, my great grandfather would say “Let’s sleep on it. It will look different in the morning.” And you know he is right everything looks better in the morning.

Play, relax, and enjoy the game.