Spartan Series # 255: “I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LOSE. BUT, I WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO QUIT!”

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Ahhhh the Sting! There is no greater bitterness than to admit that I no longer have the gumption or the drive or the bedrock reason to continue toward something I really want and believe in. When quitting is summoned as our only response we are denying that what we are chasing is not “worth it.”

Regarding losing! What a wonderful thing to step onto the stage, or into the arena and fight for our right and our place in the war. Losing!!! Hell!!! We all lost but we are here on the field, giving it all we have. We who are in the arena are the envy of all those who would not do the work to be here with us or against us. The armchair quarterbacks talk and salivate in front of their unwilling egos to prove they too belong here. However!! We who are living and dying, moment by moment by being in the fight cannot extend the same respect to those who will not do the work and “get their asses in the grass,’ (to steal a term from a Marine infantry officer in Vietnam). Be sure to know that we who engaged are automatically the winners. There is no losing. But, we all want to be on top so there is another level of the journey that must be endured—-‘Let’s call it the AGONY OF DEFEAT if we do not win. Ouch! Everytime I come close and do not win I repeat to myself, ‘THIS SHIT AIN’T HAPPENING AGAIN!” as I descend the stairs of the stage.

Back to the idea of quitting. Never in a million years should we entertain the temptation to quit. My suggestion: 1.) Take a deep breath. 2.) Punch a wall. 3.) Cry and scream out loud. 4.) Curl up on the bed and sob. 5.) Get up, take a long shower and think about what you will do now—but quitting is not one. 6.) Talk softly to your wife who feels all your turmoil and disappointment as her own 7.). Resolve to find another way and begin to fantasize about the plan. 8.) NEVER TELL ANYBODY ABOUT THE NEW YOU. 9.) Get after it and be willing to lose again and push on for the win.

Bottom Line: Don’t let quitting define you. Losing will never define you. Before you can make the world believe in you, you must make yourself believe in you. All this is given in my humble opinion. See you in the arena but prepare to lose.