People
Winning Ain't Everything
RAKIND KAUR
As a kid I use to get very annoyed at losing. Not so much because I lost but more so because I knew why I didn't win and most of the time, I felt, it wasn't because I didn't deserve.
I've only ever won in competitions where no one knew who I was or whose daughter I was. It seemed unfair to me that I would not be given a medal or trophy because my motivation to learn and do well didn't have anything to do with wanting to win.
I've never need encouragement to do what I want and thankfully I was blessed enough to have the family I do because they never asked me to explain myself when I stopped competing for the most part when I was only 14, and altogether by the time I was 18.
I'm not a very competitive person. As a kid, that annoyance was mixed with a bit of jealousy, a feeling that I never like even if it only made itself known so rarely and for a few moments. But because I have never much cared about social or the world's validation, I learnt contentment instead of competitiveness.
I not competitive, because I know my worth. It doesn't quite matter how good I am or how skilful I am, compared to others. Because even if I were the best in literally everything in the world due to competitiveness, what would that be worth if I weren't content? Would one truly be happy with external validation? Is it truly more desirable than internal peace?
In my opinion, no.
Therefore, I would like to thank those, who actually told me why I wasn't given any prize when I thought I deserved to win. Thank you for letting me find something much more important to keep than a measly trophy or a gilded medal. Most of you probably will never come across this piece, and I probably won’t run into you for a long time, if ever, but I do believe the universe will let you know, how very thankful I truly am to you.
And of course, we must thank Waheguru for making me naturally so resilient and letting me have such a wonderful family, unforgettable childhood, and teaching me of things that truly matter through nature and giving me Sikhi (because, without it, I'd literally not be here doing this and would've gone to live in a jungle years ago. Not kidding at all.).
If it wasn't for all that, I probably wouldn't be me and as it pertains to this life, being myself is the most precious gift I have.
[The author lives in Los Angeles, California, USA, and works as a frelance photographer and artist.]
September 30, 2015