When we were young one of our teachers had asked ‘What are the two saddest words in English ?’ and the answer was – ‘If Only’ ! With theon going Paris Olympics 2024 in full swing it’s been most disheartening that a number of our promising athletes were placed ‘fourth’ and lost out on the medals by just a ‘whisker’! If we feel crestfallen at this travesty of fate, think of what they felt as their dreams got dashed in just minutes.
In sports, talent contests, academic competitions,business ventures and video games the margins of failures and successes are measurable and visible after the event. But in life we all face hits and misses with amazing regularity and in varying degrees and learn to cope with it. There is always an element of wistfulness of reflections when we look back – if we had done things differently, seized all the opportunities, realised the gravity of situations, given right answers, taken correct decisions, life would be better.
Yet that’s not how it works in reality since we are human and prone to making errors. Famously said ‘you win some, you lose some’ and then there is the law of averages too. Howard Schultz says ‘I believe life is a series of near misses. A lot of what we ascribe to luck is not luck at all. It’s seizing the day and accepting responsibility for your future. It’s seeing what other people don’t see and pursuing that vision.’ Most achievers learn from their ‘near misses’ and try to ensure that they not succumb at crunch moments !
Misses don’t always have a negative connotations as was in the most recent incident of the failed assassination attempt on Donald (Trump) who claims to have ducked in time. A silver lining in grey clouds, many said this proved beneficial to his prospects. In Bengali we say ‘Phada Katlo’ or you overcame a bad omen when someone gets away with a minor injury, financial loss or experience that could’ve had disastrous results !
Lucky are those who get out of road/rail accidents but we must react when “potential accidents”situations start to occur because these “near misses” are, precisely, risk indicators. These “near misses” are warning lights forewarning us about the possibility of a potential accident. Timely corrective steps must follow on the likely causes.
Then there’s the positive side where you shouldn’t miss a chance to do something good and inspirational for fellow beings as you may do for loved ones and friends. Famous golfer Jeev Milkha Singh fondly remembers his Dad Milkha Singh, legendary sprinter.‘My Dad never misses a chance to remind me that whenever we are travelling together, if 100 people mob him for autographs, five approach me.’ What a motivator he was !
Finally, there’s always a lot of ‘missing’ between married couples when not near each other in the early phases of their togetherness but later on things may change and there are ‘near’ misses and hits at times. Tommy Cooper has tongue firmly in his cheek when he confesses ‘I’ve got a wife who never misses me. Her aim is perfect!’
Working on Living 