Second Place Doesn't Mean First Loser
Growing up, my brothers and I were raised to believe that if you weren't number one, you were nothing.

This is a lie that I bought into early in life, and it wasn't until I matured that I realized the fallacy in this thinking.

Being number one is wonderful. True. But being number two doesn't mean you're worthless, or didn't try your best or didn't have your head in the game.

I'm exhausted from many late nights watching the Olympics. I am mesmerized by athletes abilities to "smash" world records and in awe of individuals standing in the eyes of the world, hoping to prove that their years of training will merit a gold medal.

Last night, our women's gymnastics team made some mistakes. In the end, they walked away with the silver medal.

There is no shame in that!!

It's easy to backseat quarterback and make judgments when we ourselves aren't skilled enough to even get on the piece of equipment in the first place. Why do people step out of bounds? Why do they fall off before the routine is over?

Because no one is perfect!!

I resent all of the headlines today that echo a sentiment similar to this one: "Americans falter, settle for silver."

How insulting!

These young ladies tried their best. They practiced and represented their country well.

Regretfully, the other team had a better night.

But that doesn't mean our team should feel bad about their performance! In the entire world, there were only a few last night that had what it took to win a medal in the first place. How many other young ladies from other countries competed after years of practice too and went home empty handed?

There is no shame in trying.

I believe it is more nobel to try and fail than to play it safe and never try at all.

What kind of a message does this send to others aspiring for greatness? Does this mean that a silver or bronze medal pales in comparison to gold?

I don't think so, especially when you look at an event like swimming when the difference between the medals are literally hundredths of a second!!

I hate the mentality that second place is first loser.

It isn't.

I haven't been first in everything I've tried either, but at least I had the courage to try.

And that makes me, just like the women last night, stronger and more courageous than the nay-sayers who think it just isn't good enough.