...on being a world champion!

My dearest readers,

I have not quite anticipated this particular post, but after the World Cup ended not only for me but for an entire great nation in a historic win, it became apparent to eventually present a discourse exclusively on winning. After frustrating years of several second and third places, of being good, yet not good enough, always being placed in a position to win but repeatedly missing the mark, the big shot, the time for a great team had finally come to be, where not a good but a great team belongs: on top of the world. This is on winning, for winners, and for winners only!

In times of winning joy and pride, satisfaction, and gratitude are conspicuous and—as appears—all there is; rain and storms dispersed, and all that is left is the everlasting sunshine of the one who remains on top. After Germany won the World Cup it appeared that everlasting sunshine was indeed all there was; however, in times of victory we often forget that this victory, this ‘being on top’ is not something we can take for granted, for winning is not natural at/after all. When you go back in time and see the many setbacks Germany had to take in the past years, the derision, the doubt, over and over again having to accept that they were quite good but not good enough to be all the way on top, then we come to realize that there were much rain and many storms on the way to ‘everlasting’ sunshine that can now, after all those years, shake and move an entire nation.

But “[w]hat does it take to be a champion? Desire, dedication, determination, concentration and the will to win” (Patty Berg); and bearing in mind these attributes even in times of winning, attributes that were necessary, that are mandatory, that a phenomenal victory demands, that is what makes a win…a win. What is a victory without the desire, the dedication, the determination, the concentration, and the will to win? What is a victory you didn’t have to earn? What is a victory you didn’t have to fight for? “What is joy without sorrow? What is success without failure? What is a win without a loss? […] You have to experience each, if you are to appreciate the other” (Mark Twain).

Winning is special, just because it is not merely the moment you get to present a giant trophy. Winning is special, because eventually all the hard work you put in and the blood and sweat you spilled got you far and made you endure beyond the endurance of others, of anyone else, where in the end there was only one being the last one standing, where there were others that were good but not good enough—but there was you who lasted until the very end eventually claiming your hard-earned and well-deserved new spot on the mountain peak, the spot reserved for the few and the proud who are willing to endure where others drown out: the winners!

Just note that it was not the trophy itself that made Germany the world champions…nor were it the many celebrations and festivities to follow. Note that it was the relentless desire, the years of hard work, the dedication, the belief, the determination, and—most importantly—the never-fading will to win that made Germany what they became and finally are: the champions of the world. And if you have this relentless will to win deep down in your heart, then God knows it is just a matter of time until you get your time to shine, until you get to hold up a big trophy that ultimately and undoubtedly declares you what you really and at last are: a winner! #allinornothing …and that is all I’ve got to say!