What does it mean to be Loser? I love the weekends, especially Sundays, when it is cloudy out and I can snuggle up in a blanket with my coffee catching up on a show or reading a good book.  I recently watched a Netflix series called “Losers” which brought a lot of emotions to the forefront.  I came from a small town where sports were a staple and the whole town would end up in gym for a game.  What a feeling to have everyone around you supporting you and hearing the loud cheering coming from the bleachers.  I can still smell the popcorn while warming up for a basketball game.  The track was my true home the place where I felt most alive and where I could let go of what I was thinking.  Sports was always more to me than winning but of course I became a very competitive athlete.  I learned how to become a “Loser” in the 6^th grade where I had my breaking point as we lost a game and my attitude reflected poorly.  My parents made me apologize to my coach/teacher the next day before school and I felt horrible for how I acted but from that point on I learned from losing.

Losing is a good thing because life throws us curveballs all the time and we can only grow stronger but of course sometimes it can cause pain as well.  I look at society and it amazes me on how we must reward our children for everything they do with a participation ribbon.  If we are always rewarding them do they learn how to lose?  I think my daughter received more medals by the time she was five than I did my whole career as she got them just by looking cute in a tutu for dance.  I watch when I officiate basketball games how third graders handle losing, and it really makes me sad.  The team that wins usually comes and gives us knuckles and the team that loses usually walks off the court with frowns.  What is even worse is how the parents handle themselves and what the children then mimic.  When did we stop teaching our children how to be respectful even though they may be upset with themselves.  The series “Losers” show how pro athletes learn how to overcome their losses and how it makes them better human beings.  I think it is a great series to show our children what life really means and that it isn’t about the ribbons as it is about so much more.

We are going to lose everyday at something whether it be a game or a job interview so maybe my parents were on to something when I was young.  You should have to earn what is yours and work hard to get the medal or trophy.  I have been watching my own daughter go through the growing pains of watching others get on a podium while she must cheer on her teammates.  It is hard to watch as a parent, but it is a teaching moment for me to let her know that no matter how many times she loses I will still be proud that she is doing her best.  Of course, wanting to be competitive is a good thing and I want my daughter to want to push her limits when it comes to anything whether it be in sports or curriculum.  She still wants to be an Olympic Swimmer and I tell her every day that she can accomplish anything she can put her mind to, but I know the sting of the world will eventually hit.  I hope to always be there for her through wins and losses through life but hopefully I have taught her already how to lose gracefully.  Maybe our children don’t need a ribbon, maybe they just need us.

Music is my comfort and makes me feel alive.  I was able to share my love for music by bringing my daughter to the recent P!NK concert and watching the joy it brought her made the tears flow.

Don’t Take the Girl – Tim McGraw (Click Here)
Same old boy
Same sweet girl
Five years down the road
There’s gonna be a little one and she
Says it’s time to go
Doctor says the baby’s fine
But you’ll have to leave
‘Cause his momma’s fading fast and
Johnny hit his knees and there he prayed
“Take the very breath you gave me
Take the heart from my chest
I’ll gladly take her place if you’ll let me
Make this my last request
Take me out of this world
God, please don’t take the girl”

Barbies -P!NK (Click Here)
I wish I could go back to playing barbies in my room
They never say that you gotta grow up, quite this soon
How fast things change, and now I’m here
And all I wanna do
Is go back to playing barbies in my room

I Am Here – P!NK (Click Here)
May the light be upon me
May I feel in my bones that I am enough
I can make anywhere home
My fingers are clenched, my stomach in knots
My heart it is racing, but afraid I am not
Afraid I am not

God’s Country – Blake Shelton (Click Here)
I saw the light in the sunrise
Sittin’ back in the 40 on the muddy riverside
Gettin’ baptized in holy water and shine
With the dogs runnin’
Saved by the sound of the been found
Dixie whistled in the wind, that’ll get you Heaven bound
The devil went down to Georgia but he didn’t stick around
This is God’s country (God’s country)

Until Next Time…………………………………..