You win some. You lose some.
But when you get really close to winning and still have to walk away empty handed? That’s especially difficult.
A few weeks ago, as I watched the final holes of the British Open, I could not help but feel for Matt Kuchar as he walked up the 18th fairway. He played great, and by all rights should have won, but fate dealt him an unexpected blow. His face told the whole story.
To make a tough loss even more difficult to swallow, his wife and two small children had flown in at the last minute, thinking they’d be present for a victory. Kuchar responded with class. The whole text is worth reading, but here’s the summary of what he wanted his kids to take away in the wake of his loss:
I did my best. I tried my hardest and it didn’t work out. Certainly going to keep trying. And so it’s hard when you don’t come through as Superman, but it’s lessons that I think will pay dividends in the long run.
Success is a point in time, just like failure is. The courage to continue is what counts.
