LOST (by the Disciple)

Lost.

Easy enough word to launch off of this week. It is a word that describes what happened on Sunday. It is also a word that could describe how many of us are feeling this week. It is a word that could describe a sporting event or a personal experience.

Everything in life is either won or lost. Every situation is either a challenge you win or lose. You could lose in everything that you do in any given day or moment and be completely devastated, but you need to get up.

As humans we learn the most from failure. We learn the most when we are pushed and challenged. When we get comfortable, we stop growing. When we stop getting pushed we lose the desire to challenge.

It is a cycle that we fall into. If you work at a job that doesn’t challenge you; you stop caring or performing. If you are in a relationship that is easy and you lose the edge of discovery, it stops moving forward and dies. When you get comfortable spiritually you stop learning and assume you know everything you need, then one day everything comes crashing down and you need to rebuild with materials that are outdated.

This is what happened to the Nation this weekend. We didn’t lose, self destruct and illustrate the point that there is a large gap between the talent of the Giants and that of the Red Birds.

Rather, we hit that wall. We hit the wall where we needed to challenge ourselves. We played the same way we had all year, but rather than win a close game, we lost. It is difficult to play the same way and compete on the same level, but rather than come away joyous, be defeated.

It is a moment where you need to learn from the loss. You need to learn that all is not lost after this one game. The amount of information and the amount of character that could be built if the Nation unite and pick each other up is exponential for the remainder of the season.

Everything is a learning experience. No matter how terribly you may fail, no matter how horribly you may feel, you will be stronger when you face that tougher situation in the future.

Look, life is not easy. Nothing in life is easy besides meditating and that only works if you practice enough at it. You need to be strong. Not strong in the sense of physical strength, but mental and emotional strength.

This is an issue that I have and one that I am trying to conquer, that is why I feel that the way the Nation feels today is the same as my heart does.

It is always tough to move on past the good times and understand that you can not live in the past, but try to remember the joy that certain moments brought to your heart.

It is an interesting week this week as the Nation will be playing a game on a Thursday. It is not any Thursday, but one of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is underrated. No one truly understands how amazing this day is. You get to be with family, friends and those you love the most. You get to talk and be merry and reconnect on levels that would normally never be open on a Thursday afternoon.

People travel from the furthest destinations for this one day to spend it with those they care about. The day has one of the greatest comedies ever made, made about it:

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles.”

And lastly, this is a selfish moment for myself and those closest will understand the depth of this statement, but it was the last holiday I spent with the person that was the first to steal my heart.

So, without getting sappy and emotional I just want everyone to be aware of the moment. Be aware of the loss that happened Sunday and understand what could be learned from it. Be aware of the loss in your life and the growth that will happen after that loss.

And finally, just understand the word Thanksgiving. Break it down into the two parts. Thank the people closest in your life. Love is an emotion that is not used enough in this society and one that is utilized more as a weapon to be spiteful to those you want to hurt, rather than to Love those who truly are in your spirit.

And, giving. Give yourself or something to someone else. Enjoy the spirit of giving. Even if it is only an ear to a friend when they need it or a hug to a stranger who has a hollowed, defeated look in their eye.

This is the holiday for giving thanks for everything we have in this great, big ol’ planet. Do so, and try not to be negative. Try to honestly and selflessly Love yourself, then you will truly be the light that is inside of your soul.

Happy Thanksgiving and just be Happy!