The loss is more painful than the victory is sweet

Like everyone else on Sunday, I was glued to the television for the annual American epic event known as the Super Bowl. During the pre-game telecast, John Madden was quoted as saying, “Having been on both sides of the record, I can tell you the pain of defeat is greater than the sweetness of victory.”
 
I believe there is truth in that. Granted, I have never played in the Super Bowl, but as a life-long Bills fan and a band director, I know a thing or two about the pain of defeat. Like both teams, my victories/good days outnumbered my defeats/bad days ten to one, but it is the bad days that I remember the most.
 
I know that I am not alone in this. I also know that the angst, uncertainty, and pressures of being a music educator can, at times, eclipse the joy of the fact that we get to make music each and every day. I also know that most of us feel and remember the bad days, deeper and longer than we feel and remember the good ones. We fester over the students who quit more so than we celebrate the students who stayed. We fuss over the wrong notes more than we praise the right ones. It is an occupational hazard to be sure.
 
Is it possible to have the joy without the pain, or the pain without the joy? Probably not. Keep in mind, the recent measles outbreak started in the happiest place in the world, Disneyland. Oh, the irony. Yes, I agree with Mr. Madden to a point. I do believe that the loss is more painful than the victory is sweet.
 
But both are better than not having played at all. If you don’t believe me, just ask my Buffalo Bills or the other 30 teams that were at home watching the game in there living room just like me (although, I suspect their living room is nicer than mine).
 
At times, the pain of this profession can and will outweigh the joys. But at least you get to play in the game, and that is better than the alternative.
 
After all, your worst day in a classroom making music, is better than your best day in a cubicle.