Warrior, Zen, Successful all interesting concepts. Let’s dig a bit deeper. I wrote a book entitled “Zen and the Successful Horseplayer“. It is about horse wagering and how to find calmness, and the linkage between the two. Around the horse racing Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont) I always think of the horses. But Summer always brings horseracing back into my mind because I grew up in Seattle. Thought of as rain and gloom town, Seattle has perfect August weather. In Seattle summer is a great time to watch the horses race. In my youth at Long Acres, and nowadays at Emerald Downs. There is something so, so, well … Zen about being at the racetrack. I sort of consider myself an old horse handicapping warrior. Sometimes a winner, sometimes less so. I believe it is about SUCCESS that is why I titled the book as I did.
In the book I write: “Successful is an important term here, and it means more than just winning more or losing less. Wins versus losses are an important dynamic in determining success, yet success also involves how you feel after a horseracing experience: Did you enjoy yourself or perhaps more importantly, did those around you enjoy you? Will you be a better handicapper after this particular trip to the track…? What did you learn?”
After this paragraph I included a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“What is success?
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know that one life has breathed easier because you have lived;
That is to have succeeded.”
By the above definition of success I left the track successful every day. By this definition I am successful. I have a feeling that if you open yourself to it you are successful too.
May you find success today; and it is summer so go out to the track and have some fun.
