Is it all about being first?

I was walking home after my run this morning when I came across this on the sidewalk.

At first I thought how cute the local kids had run laps around the yard to see who could do the most.  But then I was stopped dead in my tracks when this registered in my head.

First, First, Lost.

I was saddened to think that these children are growing up with the idea that if you aren’t first you LOST.  What ever happened to doing your best and being proud of it.

I personally run a couple of running events a year and I promise you that I have no illusions that I will ever finish first, but that does not take away from the enjoyment I get from running and seeing what is the best I can do on that day.

Look closely and you see that the child who “lost”, Austin, completed just one lap fewer than Lucy and Macy who tied for first.

Now I am sure there is more to the choice of these words than meets the eye.  It may have been innocence or vengeance or simply a limited vocabulary to choose from.

I am not advocating prizes for everyone who starts the event, but what I saw on the sidewalk today is another sign of how we are perpetuating a dichotomous world.

What do you think?  How do you view your performance if you do not finish first?