The auditorium was packed. Kids of all ages were shoved in there to watch a knowledge-based competition.
Select few participated in the game, while the others watched and cheered. Well, at least those who were not falling asleep, of course.
The competition was tight, but all of a sudden, I found myself in the final two for my age group.
Throughout my formal education, I have done pretty well in terms of grades. In primary school, there was me and two other kids who would consistently get the best scores. Sometimes it was they who did better, sometimes it was me.
Most of the time it was them, though.
So you can imagine how I felt when one of them got knocked out of the competition sooner than me. The game could have ended right there and then. That was the person who was assumed to be the smartest.
Joy overpowered me. (Yes, I can be a rather competitive person.)
But at the same time, a hint of fear danced around me. I was standing face to face with the one whom I considered “second smartest”.
That was it.
Even though our grades were pretty even, somehow I knew that all the other kids were certain of my competitor winning. In fact, I was pretty sure of that myself. There was just no way.
Until the last round of questions came.
They did not know the answer to their question.
It was my chance.
“But, if they did not answer their question, what makes you think that you will be able to answer yours?” – a voice in my head asked.
The question came and I breathed a sigh of relief.
I knew the answer!
Yes, I won.
That was the first time I won anything.
What is the conclusion? No, it is not to brag, but to remind you that no matter how the odds are stacked, you should still give it a go.
YOU need to be the one to decide if you win or lose.
DO NOT let others make that decision for you.
Do you remember the first time you won something?
Have you ever won anything?
Stay golden,
***
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Haha somehow from the title of this post I thought this was gonna be a story of when of your students recognized you from this blog! I liked what it was in the end, and it’s true: You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take!
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I was thinking about you the other day. When I wrote my #MondayMotivation post, I thought of your segment of those. But then something must have interrupted my brain waves and I never made it over to your blog. Glad you picked up my vibes.
Funnily enough, as I typed the title of the post, I realized that it sounds like I’m a celebrity and one of my readers recognized me. It’s interesting that you thought similarly.
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First thing I ever won was a bucket of fish, lol. Outport Newfoundland for ya, I think I was like three years old and my nan wrote my name on one of the tickets as the story goes.
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A bucket of fish. Pretty funny, Especially since you didn’t actually enter the contest (yourself).
But yum!
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Might have to do a post soon on just good old Newfoundland. A place built around the fishery.
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I’d be curious to read.
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I bet. Bit of stupid question, but do you know where Newfoundland is? Quick google of course, but ever heard of before me?
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Yes, I’ve heard of it before, but couldn’t totally place it. However, I did deduct its whereabouts from your various posts.
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Ah, ever head this way, I know a good guide. Hehe.
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Most definitely.
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I won a sewing machine in 5th grade and had to lug it home, lol.
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Like a real-life size? Or the kid version?
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Small enough to carry but still…
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Annoying. I know.
I got a book, which I really liked. It was educational (bummer), but turned out very engaging.
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Good one. I always tell my oldest to give things a try before he decides he can’t do it.
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Yup. That’s the way to do it.
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
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I never won any prize but I imagine it feels good 😁
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It so does. Especially when you don’t have too much faith in winning and then you do.
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😁😁😁
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Maybe when you win it will be something HUGE.
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Who knows? A huge pineapple perhaps 😏
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Pineapples are great, so I think that’d be nice.
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😊😊😊
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Loved the story! It would’ve been especially fun to read it without knowing the outcome. Your title tipped your hand.
Regardless, it’s a good reminder about those moments in life where, you never know how it’s going to end up. Kudos.
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Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
And thank you for the comment about the story and how the title spoiled it a bit. It makes total sense.
The thing is that supposedly enigmatic titles aren’t the best for clicks and Google rankings. (Not that I rank anywhere near the top, anyway, lol.) So I’m trying to find a happy medium.
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I completely hear you on the challenge of choosing titles that will get clicks.
Based on my stats, it’s not my forte, lol.
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I’m stumbling in the dark.
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This reminds me of a time when I went to sleep thinking my team was going to lose and they ended winning the game in the last 2 min! Great story! We should always keep our hopes up!
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I know it can happen either way. My friends would go to sleep thinking their team was winning and then they would wake up and find out that the team lost. That’s why I watch the WHOLE game.
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I’ve ‘won’ some trifle things over the years. I was mostly embarrassed. I like recognition for work but, I also like anonymity.
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So we wouldn’t see you grinning on national TV if you were to win the Lotto?
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Speaking of…I saw the latest winner in, what, Wisconsin? Some states have a law that your name will be released publicly. NC is like that. I understand that one NC winner showed up with a mask on. That would be me. Ok. Fine. Release my name but, if I’m shoved in front of a camera, I’m going to be looking like a Disney character or a Marvel superhero. Then, I’m moving. Can you IMAGINE the freaks that would come out of the woodwork after you?
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If I see a masked winner and you disappear from here, I’ll know what’s up.
And of course you don’t blast it. With most of the winners going broke quite quickly, you’ll have enough to worry about.
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Yeah. Most folks lose their minds and buy ridiculous crap. Mine would go in a couple of credit unions and I’d be living off of the interest.
I would disappear into the mountains, find ten acres, live in a small home and grow food…away from everyone. I’d like to travel but, people, in general, are nuts.
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I think we might end up being neighbors, because that sounds like something I’d want.
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A peaceful life is hard to come by these days.
I wouldn’t disappear, totally. I’d still blog. Of course, I would probably sound a lot like the late Art Bell when he was broadcasting Coast to Coast AM out of Pahrump, NV or John B. Wells on Caravan to Midnight…”I’m talking to you from an undisclosed location.” 😉😄😁😎
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Too funny.
As soon as I wrote that you would disappear, I realized that you would probably like to keep it status quo. Just so no one would be the wiser. But there’s not always internet deep in the jungle.
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Good point. And, satellite Internet is not all that reliable. I’m all about copper wiring, actually. My PCs are hardwired, not WiFi. Shame you can’t hardwire a stupidphone.
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My father is all about wires. And actually, I’m not a huge fan of wi-fi and cordless phones (cells) all that much, either.
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I remember when I won a tub of gel pens in middle school. I wrote a slogan for bullying? or something. I don’t remember. But I do remember feeling joy for winning the colorful gel pens. Thank you for sharing and for the encouragement: “YOU need to be the one to decide if you win or lose.”
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I’m happy to hear that you received the message.
There is something really neat about gel pens.
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