To win in life, it helps to get comfortable with losing. I have a tip: Always find someone better than you to challenge. For me, it’s a natural talent.
As a younger man, I worked for a year on the Sheboygan Campus of the University of Wisconsin. I thought I was a good tennis player. Then, I met Sandy, a young co-ed who was barely five feet tall. We got into the habit of playing a set of tennis at lunch. A crowd would gather – Sandy’s boyfriends. My plan was to play my strong game, overpower her, rush to the net. It would be a part of her higher education. This is when I learned what a lob in tennis is all about. I never won a single game against Sandy. However, I did learn how to accept crowds of people snickering without a sense of humiliation.
This was not the first or last time I discovered how easy it is for me to lose. My older years have provided numerous opportunities. My grandson Carter can whip me at HORSE, even on my home court. My friend Larry waits for me at the finish line after a run around Spooner Lake. My wife, Sherry, beats me at every game we play (and we play a lot of games).
My opinion? Coming in first isn’t what counts. Playing the game is what makes you a winner.