Winning...Losing...or Learning?

Daily Gratitude Year 4- Day 205: Today, I am grateful to rethink the opposite of winning.  It is not losing... it is learning. 

Win or lose?
Win or learn?

In Sunday school, we were listening to John Ortberg talk about Silicon Valley corporations who will not hire people who have not failed. 

Really? Interesting right? 

Through failure people learn what not to do and how to improve the process. Through failure we learn humility and how to listen to guidance. Through failure, we get better. 

Teaching people how to find lessons in their failures might be better than the "everyone gets a trophy" approach.  Encouragement builds character more then ribbons and trophies. Our tennis coach was a master at this. He built up youth by getting to really know them, observing their strengths and weaknesses and then character building by stressing integrity on the journey.  He liked to win but not at the price of integrity or loss of character. He believed in "Character before victory.", his favorite John Wooden quote. 

I am not trying to paint rose colored glasses on messing up.  We succeed or we learn what doesn't work. What you frame as failure, you might "re-frame" as a lesson learned.Here are some common lessons learned.

Preparation matters. 
Failure isn't final.
Snooze buttons are dangerous.
Organization is a skill that counts.
Quality materials make a difference.
Time spent greatly increases positive success and outcomes. 
Most success is not quick or guaranteed.
Success can make us too comfortable.
Consistency is a strength.
A good team makes all the difference.
Some days are wins.
Attitude is a superpower.
People make mistakes.
I make mistakes.
Love always wins.

Isn't it amazing to live in a time where people get to explore and try new things over the course of a lifetime? What new thing have you tried lately? What natural talent is being ignored for fear of failing? What heart's desire is never presented before the Lord for fear he may send us down a new and scary path? God still opens doors and prepares his people for the next thing. 

Try new things!  There are lessons to be learned... and some wins to sweeten path. 

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."-Isaiah 43:19

Mama Ina Mae says "learn something new every day". 

Today, I am grateful to rethink the opposite of winning.  It is not losing... it is learning. We are never too old to learn.