this story is supposed to be about my two kids' taekwondo tournament but it's gonna segue into a totally different, devastating story. that is a forewarning.
it was the bulacan taekwondo championships held in marilao convention center in, where else, bulacan. the kids were psyched for another fight and so were hubby and me. i can say that we live for days like these. it just makes us plain happy.
little girl was sent to the mats early and won her first game without a sweat. (that's me, the mom, talking.) second game was a breeze. (again, proud mom moment.)
her finals match was unexpected. she was up against an older girl but with the same height, the younger sister of a veteran champ in clraa (central luzon ahtletic association or something) and although wearing a white belt, we expect has been training way longer than my little girl. little girl overwhelmingly lost her finals match. and her tears of furstration and hurt were overwhelming as well. i consoled her of course that it was not something to be ashamed of and that we're all still proud of her.
...ooOoo...
little big man's first game was a breeze too. then finals match was definitely not hard but sadly, he lost by 1 point. he was disappointed of course, being hungry for another gold again but i guess, luck wasn't on his side.... yet. coach told hubby that the little big man already has everything -- skills, form, speed -- we just have to be a little more patient and we will harvest soon. this guy's time will come. i've said this time and time again, everytime he loses, because i strongly believe so.
...ooOoo...
towards late afternoon, the intense games of the kids' high school teammates got us all worked up and cheering on the sides. it became an opportunity for some nitwit to steal my handbag which i left on a chair together with our team's bags and equipment. the thief singled out my bag because i left our low bat iPad® inside. he must've been around already since morning, checking out who would be neglectful of their belongings, and i turned out to be the unknowing victim.
when i found my chair without my bag, i told the hubby and we informed coach who announced it over the microphone to please be mindful of belongings since a parent (me!!) lost her bag. a little while later, coach's wife when she found out, told us she noticed an abandoned bag inside one of the stinky toilets. and there it was. my ransacked bag without the iPad and my wallet.
three lessons in losing today:
1) the little girl's loss tells me that despite doing your best, if the other person who beat you is way ahead of you, you have to accept. but you better train harder so you will be as good as her, if not better.
2) the little big man's loss tells me that being the winner is not a one-time thing. the process of getting there, overcoming obstacles, learning and maturing marks the true champion. his time will come.
3) and what did i learn from my loss? never leave your personal belongings unattended. God bless that nitwit thief. and God bless me more.
“Winning or losing achieves the same result-- change.”
