Silver Linings

this year he really had to fight, in fact he fought the same boy (a little bigger, taller and heavier) 3 times, without there being a winner.

he won his other fights easily -

and in the end in the last seconds of his 3rd fight with this bigger boy, they awarded the gold to the other boy.

tired drained and deeply dissapointed the tears just started rolling down his face, total exhaustion.

Tom didn't give up, not for one second, when people talk of 101% effort this was it...

he fought and struggled, the other boy had him in a head lock strangling him while pinning him to the mat - Tom wriggled and struggled but just couldn't get out this time.

he had twice before got out of this grip in his earlier fights with him..

i felt his lonliness being on the mat all alone facing himself - like life,

people around but in the end on his own...i thought of myself...

after the traditional bow, he walked off crying...crying i sent him back to shake hands with the other boy,

after being consoled by his mom, i called him and we sat on the mat chatting waiting for the medal presentations...

i told him how proud i was of him and how he can hold his head up high...

Silver earned him Western Province colours - and we bought the badge right away...

Tom was amazing...focused - which isn't always easy, and determined not to lose...

i asked him to accept the decision of the judges..he just couldn't.. i did say he can go query them, which he did. But there decision was made - (I think they were exhausted too from watching them fight, all the other children had finished).

i said the sooner he accepted there decision, the sooner he could be happy again, and just be proud of his effort.

tonight his going to join me at Yoga - i told him it will help him with his Judo...