Isn't Losing Wonderful?

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Published: October 13, 2007

Visitor Comments: 13

(13) Jakub, October 18, 2007 1:18 PM

thank you

Thanks for this "liftup"! What doesnt kill you makes you stronger and the enemy is a good teacher.

(12) Yechezkel, October 17, 2007 8:25 PM

The story behind the story

Uri's insight about the Colorado Rockies tragedy (see comments above)adds a whole other dimension to this: see www-cbsnews-com/stories/2007/07/23/national/main3087644.shtml

(11) steven fox, October 17, 2007 6:17 AM

Cleveland has learn alot from defeat

but not as much as the Cubs......

(10) Fernando Ocumare, October 17, 2007 3:21 AM

SO MUCH TO LEARN AT THE END

I have lost so many things in my life. Friends,loved ones in general, money, my bussines; All that brought a dark cloud of insecuretness to my daily activities. I took me years to understand that I had acquired the ability to help others by just listen to their problems and be there for them in their hard moments. I simply developed a sort of "soft place to fall"
image that allowed me to realize how HaShem turn any bad sitiuation into an exciting opportunity to help others.

Fernando Ocumare
ocumared@hotmail.com

(9) Anonymous, October 16, 2007 10:53 PM

Thankyou for this truth. I was feeling rejected because some paintings of mine were not juried into an art show. To top it off my friend won first place today. I asked God to make my wound better because I was very hurt. There was the answer ,I never thought of defeat this way.

(8) Chaya Goldstein, October 16, 2007 4:46 PM

Lost chapter of mishlei discovered!!

You cannot win for losing.

- Mishlei 32:32

(7) Chaya Goldstein, October 16, 2007 4:34 PM

Oh, please.

I hope you lose.

(6) Anonymous, October 16, 2007 4:26 PM

descendant?

Is Rabbi Yaakov Salomon a straight descendant from Shlomo HaMelech? Just wondering.

(5) John, October 16, 2007 4:02 PM

Comment on Rabbi Saloman's video - "Why defeat is better than victory"

I could not agree with you more. An excellent commentary! Something for us all to keep in mind in the "defeats" that this life bring us personally. I commiserate with your (our) loss on the NY baseball scene as well, being born in Brooklyn.

(4) Anonymous, October 16, 2007 2:03 PM

great message, great delivery-- as usual...

(3) David Ash, October 16, 2007 1:32 PM

Learn from Defeat

It was Christy Mathewson who said, "You can learn little from victory. You can learn everything from defeat." That quote was on a 2007 baseball calendar (April 11) and is something I carry around.

(2) uri katz, October 16, 2007 5:27 AM

something to think about?

Good morning R' Yaakov,
Although I consider myself a talmid, I don't know if you are into baseball, but I do know that it can certainly be grist for your mill.

This morning the Colorado Rockies are National League Pennant winners, and await an opponent for the World Series.

One month ago the Rockies sat in fourth (yes fourth) place in their division. Since then they ended the season by winning thirteen of fourteen games, on the way to sweeping the first two playoff rounds with another seven strait wins. They have now won 20 of 21, an almost unprecedented feat. Are they really that good?

Several weeks ago, at about the same time that the playoffs were just a dream for this team, a freak accident occurred during a game played by the Drillers, a minor league affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Mike Coolbaugh, was coaching first base, when he was struck in the head by a line drive foul ball, and was killed. By all accounts

Mike was a terrific guy, well liked by all, he is survived by an expectant wife and two young boys. At the time of this accident Mike had been with the Drillers for only two weeks.

The Colorado Rockies announced, that should they make the playoffs, Mikes boys would be invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to start game 1, and that's what happened.

Upon making the playoffs, the team voted to award Mikes family a full "players share" of the playoff purse, amounting to a minimum of $120,000.00. All this for a man who worked for a minor league affiliate, for less than two weeks, who in all likelihood had never even met any of the players or coaches on the major league team.

The Colorado Rockies, Is everything going their way? The Almighty is he the one who loves kindness? Something to think about?

(1) Rosen, October 14, 2007 7:17 PM

Don't give up!

It's not losing that is necessarily failure, but giving up. Therefore, we ought to learn from our mistakes that we can do better the next time.

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About the Author

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

More by this Author >

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, C.S.W. is a noted psychotherapist, in private practice in Brooklyn, N.Y. for over 25 years. He is a Senior Lecturer and the Creative Director of Aish Hatorah's Discovery Productions. He is also an editor and author for the Artscroll Publishing Series and a member of the Kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.

Rabbi Salomon is co-author, with Rabbi Noah Weinberg, of the best selling book "What the Angel Taught You; Seven Keys to Life Fulfillment," (Mesorah), and is also the co-producer of the highly-acclaimed film, "Inspired."

Click here to order Yaakov Salomon's new book, Salomon Says: 50 Stirring and Stimulating Stories.

In these marvelous stories -- brimming with wit, understanding, a touch of irony and a large helping of authentic Torah perspective -- we will walk with a renowned and experienced psychotherapist and popular author through the pathways of contemporary life: its crowded sidewalks, its pedestrian malls, and the occasional dead end street. This is a walk through our lives that will be fun, entertaining -- and eye-opening. In our full -- sometimes overfull -- and complex lives, Yaakov Salomon is a welcome and much-needed voice of sanity and reason.

His speaking, writing and musical talents have delighted audiences from Harvard to Broadway and everything in between. Rabbi Salomon shares his life with his wife, Temmy, and their unpredictable family.

Isn't Losing Wonderful?

Why defeat is better than victory.

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