You Win Some, You Lose Some

Here’s a quick test for you – Who won the Super Bowl earlier this year? Now I have a more difficult question – Who lost? Many of us will remember that the Pittsburgh Steelers hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy in February and will start the season this fall as defending World Champions. Fewer of us, unless we live in “The Grand Canyon State,” will have stored into our memory banks that Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals walked off the field in defeat. The losers, even if they showcased amazing talent up until the last moment of play, are often forgotten.

This example in the world of sports can be translated into any area of life. Just think about the famous quotes “To the victors go the spoils” and “History is written by the winners.” How many civilizations and cultures have very little documentation concerning their forefathers because others were given the task of retelling events? The lens through which we see ourselves and others is, fairly or not, largely based on how the successes and failures that are recorded.

If we personally fail often enough, we can reach the conclusion that we are simply destined to be losers. In my first novel, Lifetime Loser, I introduce my readers to such a character. The book opens with J.W. Schroeder finds himself falling one shot short of becoming a member of the PGA Tour, destroying a lifelong dream that he long believed was destined to become reality. How will J.W. adjust to this change in his professional plans? Will he let his mind remain stuck in the notion of “what could have been”? Or, will he realize that he has a loving family and great job managing a golf course, both of which still give him endless opportunities to be a winner?

I hope you will read Lifetime Loser and discover if you can relate to the feelings of self-doubt that J.W. Schroeder experiences. Then, you can continue with the series based at the Prairie Winds Golf Course through my next two novels, Finish Line and Tuey’s Course. I would love to hear from you concerning my writing and the characters I have developed.