I was looking for inspiration for this month’s blog and my wife showed me this picture. I laughed because it was so cute. I have no idea what sport or game these kids were playing, and it doesn’t matter. The look on the face of the kid on top of the podium as he looks over at the other kid who came third says “what are you so happy about, you came in third”. But the kid who came in third is ecstatic. He did his best and somebody beat him, but he is happy with his performance. He is in the moment and he has decided to embrace and enjoy his third-place finish. This is awesome.

There is almost always going to be somebody who has greater skill, is faster, has more money, a nicer car, a better job, or whatever. But if we get hung up on this stuff, we run the risk of taking on the attitude of a victim.

I am reminded of the song “Don’t worry, be happy” by Bobby McFerrin. The lyrics go:

“Here is a little song I wrote
You might want to sing it note for note

Don’t worry, be happy

In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double

Don’t worry, be happy”

This is a very simple message, and of course life is complicated, but it reminds us that we have a choice about the attitude we take to life’s events.

We can take a lesson from the “third place” kid in the photo.

He came third. He is happy!

Be happy,

Doug Dougherty
CEO

Image sourced from an Instagram post by Debra J. Wilson