Quitters Never Win and Winners Never Quit

Companions,

At last night’s weekly Friday night meeting, we discussed the difference between winning and losing (in life, studies, work, family and sport). And it all came down to giving up or pushing through.

It was just a few days ago when I watched three women quit during a soccer game. They just stopped playing. They were behind by a score of 3-1 with a half still to play and just walked off the field.

There was something really disturbing for me about watching that happen - as if it was just ok for them to give up - as if it was out of habit - things get tough, walk away.

What was it that made them give up so easily? Was it that same voice in the heads of many of our kids who frequently give up so easily? The ones who hear: “You can’t...” “Why try?” “You must be kidding, ...” “Loser.” “You’re from Guarjila, what can you do?”

I have seen it many times before. Things get started with good intentions but then are left behind out of laziness, fear, apathy, not enough support, or lack of self-confidence. Kids quit teams; community projects are started and then just left unfinished; dreams never take root... Life goes on from a street corner, but without the feeling of accomplishment or self-love, waiting for another day to end.

So we asked the question last night - What is the difference between winning and losing? The Tamarindos’ response was: preparation, discipline, love, sacrifice, attitude, hard work. This is what it takes to be a winner.

I once read somewhere that, “The difference between the winner and the loser is the winner’s willingness to do the things the loser refuses to do.” So we refuse to accept “losing” here in the Tamarindo. We reject others’ sympathy or any excuse to not try. We reject the labels given to us like poor, disadvantaged, third world, second rate....

We decide that we won’t make excuses. We stand up. We sweat. We work harder. We study harder. We play harder. We do all that we are capable of doing to win – in school, on the field, at home, as a Tamarindo.

Like Phil Pepe (a sports writer) found on a locker room wall, “Quitters never win and winners never quit;” we refuse to quit, although sometimes the clock will run out on us, and sometimes the score will be against us. Bien. We go on. And we come back for another day as winners.