Winning and Losing

There have been things going on in the US that have held the attention of a lot of people.  Both sides have support.
It occurred to me that no matter what side someone supports, all know the same emotion.  For example, in soccer the Roar may be against Melbourne City.  Hypothetically, 50% may support the Roar, and 50% may support Melbourne City.  But 100% know disappointment when they lose, and 100% know jubilation when they win.
Sometimes I am right and sometimes I am wrong.  I do not have to like being wrong, but it is a fact of life.
Totalitarian regimes tend to wipe out all opposition when they win.  There is no room for any voice but their own.  It may be a fine line, but no leader but one has a monopoly on being right.  There may be joy in victory, but that joy will not last forever.  It is incredible how often the paint brush of history has painted over someone who held sway over peoples.   Cecil Rhodes named his country Rhodesia, citing how rarely the name of a country is changed.  Rarely does not mean never.
But I can win but still lose or lose but still win.  One of the things I did not like about the Australian cricket team when it was winning, is they appeared to be bad winners.  Winning is not about belittling others like being number one is our birthright.  Empires rise and fall, and so do cricket teams.
It is the time of another.  To me, winning or losing needs to be done graciously.  A lot can be told about a person or team by how they win or lose.  My team and I may work hard at what we do to the point we are peerless.  Others will be working just as hard, and if not harder, to be in my position.
I would be foolish to act like my being on top is a given.  It is not.  Maybe my team has made the most of what we have been given, but we were still given it.  Winning is a good feeling for sure, but sometimes giving my all and developing my all, is not enough.  I can still lose.  Maybe the opposition does the same thing, but their all is naturally better than mine.
I have a choice at that time.  I can try and win at all costs which involves competing outside the rules, or retreat to fight another day.  How I respond tells the story.
I am happy to use others as motivators, but I will always acknowledge that any improvement is the realization of potential I had but had never used. I don’t need to accept loss as the way it will always be, but I do need to accept it as the way it is now.
I am big on giving my all and developing what I have.  I am not into comparing myself to others as if I am better by nature.  I have enough work to do on me without looking beyond me.  If I win, I want it to be based on my making me the best I can be.  If the best someone else can be, is better, so be it.  I am not responsible for them, but I am for me.