Idaho! The Zen of Losing
Well Blog-o-verse, we knew when I started this thing I was bad at updates. Luckily we have had some adventures, so I have something to write about (finally).
NH Roller Derby sent the All Stars team to Idaho for the 5th annual Spudtown Knockdown tournament. We went in with high hopes of taking at least one win and having close games, but that was just not to be.
We experienced something teams have happen all the time; The Blow Out. Yep, we lost and we lost hard with each game.
But, while losing, something wonderful happened.
I have been on the All Stars team off and on since 2008 (2013 and 2014, I declined the opportunity to try out). For the first time (that I can remember) not a single person gave up on our bench, no one was blamed or shamed, everyone was given a chance to play and show their worth, every skater smiled and pushed hard, and no one was angry at the rest of the team. No insults at each other, no flung words at the other teams.
We had... Zen Bench!
I mean, it was epic rays of light and harps playing shit happened to us. We smiled, we worked hard, and we worked together.
There are no other words that could be used.We found our Zen in losing.
I have been thinking over the last week: How did we get here?
Compared to the past, it's just about unheard of. Normally on a losing bench people lose their shit, cannot function, and then bring others down with them. At some point, normally, there is blame ("I could have made that block but no, she f'd it up") and then there is the dragging down of others.
So, what was different this year?
First of all, we all like each other. We have accepted the differences of lifestyles, ability, and personalities. We have said "I want to be your friend and teammate and if we cannot be friends, I want to be a good teammate to you". That's huge! Sure, you do not always have to get along with your teammates. Perhaps you have a fundamental problem with their beliefs, but does that make being a good teammate impossible? Hell no!
So, there we were, good teammates to each other. Supportive, encouraging and nothing but amazing on and off the track! (Zen)
Second, we are rebuilding our team and league together. We know we are all working hard. We know we are all dealing with strong emotions and issues outside of Roller Derby (*gasp!* Yes! There is life outside of the track).
Lastly, we are being realistic with ourselves. Do we have expectations about each other as a team? Sure we do. But, they are based on the reality of our abilities and strengths, not on pipe dreams of beating Gotham Roller Derby.
We were handed many a compliment by the other teams, the announcers, and spectators. It's really nice to be told "You are amazing! Even losing it was epic to watch you guys skate!" We were told, individually and as a team, what amazing skaters we were and how everyone hoped we would be back for Spudtown next year.
So, here we are, as a team and as a league. We are willing to celebrate our team and individual successes as well as give each other tools to improve.
Anything is possible now with us as a team and we are truly blessed this 2015 season.
I'll make a separate post about the fun, how we make new friends, and load up a few pictures later.
NH Roller Derby sent the All Stars team to Idaho for the 5th annual Spudtown Knockdown tournament. We went in with high hopes of taking at least one win and having close games, but that was just not to be.
We experienced something teams have happen all the time; The Blow Out. Yep, we lost and we lost hard with each game.
But, while losing, something wonderful happened.
I have been on the All Stars team off and on since 2008 (2013 and 2014, I declined the opportunity to try out). For the first time (that I can remember) not a single person gave up on our bench, no one was blamed or shamed, everyone was given a chance to play and show their worth, every skater smiled and pushed hard, and no one was angry at the rest of the team. No insults at each other, no flung words at the other teams.
We had... Zen Bench!
I mean, it was epic rays of light and harps playing shit happened to us. We smiled, we worked hard, and we worked together.
There are no other words that could be used.We found our Zen in losing.
I have been thinking over the last week: How did we get here?
Compared to the past, it's just about unheard of. Normally on a losing bench people lose their shit, cannot function, and then bring others down with them. At some point, normally, there is blame ("I could have made that block but no, she f'd it up") and then there is the dragging down of others.
So, what was different this year?
First of all, we all like each other. We have accepted the differences of lifestyles, ability, and personalities. We have said "I want to be your friend and teammate and if we cannot be friends, I want to be a good teammate to you". That's huge! Sure, you do not always have to get along with your teammates. Perhaps you have a fundamental problem with their beliefs, but does that make being a good teammate impossible? Hell no!
So, there we were, good teammates to each other. Supportive, encouraging and nothing but amazing on and off the track! (Zen)
Second, we are rebuilding our team and league together. We know we are all working hard. We know we are all dealing with strong emotions and issues outside of Roller Derby (*gasp!* Yes! There is life outside of the track).
Lastly, we are being realistic with ourselves. Do we have expectations about each other as a team? Sure we do. But, they are based on the reality of our abilities and strengths, not on pipe dreams of beating Gotham Roller Derby.
We were handed many a compliment by the other teams, the announcers, and spectators. It's really nice to be told "You are amazing! Even losing it was epic to watch you guys skate!" We were told, individually and as a team, what amazing skaters we were and how everyone hoped we would be back for Spudtown next year.
So, here we are, as a team and as a league. We are willing to celebrate our team and individual successes as well as give each other tools to improve.
Anything is possible now with us as a team and we are truly blessed this 2015 season.
I'll make a separate post about the fun, how we make new friends, and load up a few pictures later.
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