GO Contest

Today, I accompanied N to take part in a GO contest he has been expecting for some time. The result, however, was a bit to N’s surprise, and mine too. He lost 3 games and won only 2. The last game dealt no less a light blow to N who, until then, still expected for one more win to get at least a small prize. He looked quite disappointed, more to himself I guess, while leaving the contest. Accompanying him for a walk on the road blazed with the scorching sun, I was full of love and tenderness holding his little hands, voicing out my sincere encouragements.

In fact, I am quite proud of him. As N is 27 kyu, this time he dared confront the foreseeable challenges by joining the 25 kyu contest. While his two wins are out of his own expectation, they are unexpected to me as I only put my hope in one win of his at first.

Though the GO world, to say the least, is much more cruel than adults’ daily competitions as any contest, any play, of this game will without failure always lead to one winner and one loser only, I know N will grow stronger in heart and soul by facing the game seriously yet squarely. In this regard, his joy in the game (he still enjoys very much of it) may come from his balance already gained inside. Never to be overjoyed in the win, yet never over-doomed by the defeat.

For a life to go on in light as well as at night, getting stronger in both mind and body is never too much overemphasized in its necessity. And I know that N can and will get stronger.