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I watched the 2018 World Figure Skating Championships. In competition, each participant starts off with the predefined perfect score. As they perform judges deduct points for each infraction or imperfection occurred. Judges award bonus points in the second half of the program once the skater completes the prerequisite jumps, dependent on their additional jump’s defined degrees of difficulty.
Skilled 15-year-old Russian Alina Zagitova skated her freestyle program in 1st place standing following her short program performance. Alina was the surprise 2018 Winter Olympic Gold Medalist in Women’s Figure Skating. She landed her first triple jump perfectly at the beginning of her freestyle program. She skated like she was in her zone.
Typically, Alina saves all her triple jumps for the second half of her program. Opening that segment, she misjudged her spins and fell twice. Panicked she fell again and again. Bewildered, she closes out her routine not risking anything. Exiting the ice, she bursts into tears on her coach’s shoulder.
Her imperfections tumbled her from her 1st place standing. Her constructed game starts from perfection, and corrects as imperfections accumulate. This is the game of perfection, not making mistakes. Alina’s game is solitary. She truly stands alone. There’s no freedom to dare to lose. There’s no freedom to dare to be greater than she knows. Risking greater than can be punished.
John Donne wrote that “No man is an island”
No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s
Or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
We’re all part of the whole. We’re all human. In some way, we lose with Alina. It’s that design of the game she chooses to play. Her game is about perfection. Perfection is not only unrealistic. It is oh so unforgiving.
As much as I enjoy Women’s Figure Skating I’m the Pro Football guy. In Football, both teams start from zero. The winner scores the most points at the end of 4 quarters of play or in overtime. I love the game’s design. I love simple.
New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady is my Man. In the second half of Super Bowl 2017, the Patriots were down by 22 points to the Atlanta Falcons. Tom threw an impetuous pass intercepted by the Falcons. Tom walked of the field pulling off his straps from his helmet with that look in his eyes, “That’s not happening again!”
In the second half, Tom threw 3 touchdowns and accomplished the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. Tom won his 5th career Super Bowl and his 3rd Super Bowl MVP. At the award presentation Tom tells Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, who said he’s the best Quarterback he’s ever seen play, “Michael, I’m not the best. I’m just tired.”
In Super Bowl 2018, the Patriots were down 8 points with 3 seconds left in the game. Tom dropped back to pass and unleashed a 50-yard bomb into the end zone. All-Pro Tight end Rob Gronkowski leaped into the air amidst 3 other defenders. But it was not to be. The Philadelphia Eagles won their first Super Bowl ever.
Tom gave his all until the very end. Others like Gronk had his back in that possibility. Tom masters the “internal game”. He completed with 505 passing yard, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions. In the post-game interview, Tom said, “This sucks.” He congratulated the Eagles on their well-deserved victory.
Tom admitted on “The Stephen Colbert Show” that it took him about a month to get over the Super Bowl loss. Now at 41 years old, he prepares for another run at Super Bowl 2019. He trains to be greater. I’m pretty sure Tom would rather have gotten his 6th Super Bowl ring.
However, Tom is about what’s possible until the very end of the game. That inspired me. That’s learning the Way to Lose according to Bruce Lee. Hold out for what’s possible. Whatever happens, happens. Live with the outcome. Move on.
One morning in intense Aikido weapons training, I practiced the art of the jo, the wooden staff. We practiced for the two-person attack. The person in front of you with the jo attacks to strike your head; the person behind you strikes your head with the jo as well simultaneously. The Game: Two people come to ‘kill’ you. You evade and counter-attack. You take both attackers down.
Fortunately, this is just a game. No one dies, intentionally. Of course, I’m kidding. Yet, the game is played like life and death. Practice like it’s “on”.
On my part as soon as the person in front raises his or her jo to strike, I move in and strike first. Create space in front. Then while facing forward, I swing my jo back at the person striking from behind creating space, again.
I turn back to the front profiling my body stepping out of the line of the attack. I strike the front attacker on the head. Then I turn behind and strike the attacker from behind as I stand in profile.
Surrender to the possibility of losing. Learn the Art of Dying. We all make mistakes. It’s inevitable in life. Granted, some mistakes are more costly than others. Accept all mistakes. Become greater because of them, and move on.
You aren’t always going to win. Learn the Way to Lose, becoming greater than you know yourself to be. No Man or Woman is an island. No one is truly alone. Listen to those who listen to you as greater, to those who walk beside you. We’re all together in life. I’ll play that game. What game will you play?
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Photo credit: Pixabay
Lisa – Yeah, this photo scores a 10…