“You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Like most of you, I spent the week watching the Olympics. I love them. I love the passion, the commitment, the drive, the thrill of the chase, the close calls, the utter unabated joy that comes from winning a medal and the character that is exhibited by those who don’t.
As I listened to the various interviews after the events, I was struck by the common response shared by those who missed the annuls of Olympic history by a mere 100th of a second. When asked how they felt, most proudly, confidently and calmly said, “Of course I am a disappointed but I did the best I could. I gave it everything I had and those who won were simply faster or just that much better.”
What an incredible way to live life, to be able to accept the results whatever they are with no remorse, regret or self flagellation simply because you knew in your heart that you gave it all you had. There is no such thing as failure when you live this way. Yes, there may be lessons to learn, but given what each knew at the time, they were clear they had done the best they could.
We are often disheartened, discouraged and depressed when we are aware that we didn’t live up to our highest capability; when we know that we could have given, done or said more than we did. It is in this void where regret resides. This is the space that leaves us feeling empty. This is the vacuum in which troubled hearts and minds forfeit their accountability and become victims of the world around them.
“The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems” ~Mahatma Gandhi
Give it all you’ve got, in whatever arena you are performing – with a new relationship, your job, the way you parent your children, starting a new business, building a house, being a good neighbor or friend. Some of these may turn out as you planned. Some may not, but whatever the result, even if you come up short by 100th of a second, you will know you gave it everything you had. You will know in your heart that you are a true winner.