Play Hard, Play Fair

From the Victorian Romantic Tarot, Justice; from the Flowers' Messages Oracle, "Black-eyed Susan:"

          My two oldest grandsons are at that age where they enjoy playing board games. Unfortunately, they haven't gotten to the point where they are gracious winners or losers, and drama always erupts at the end of a game. Even at such a young age, they have been trained to "win" by coaches, teachers and society. When they play by the rules while using their best strategy and still lose, they think life has treated them unfairly. Whatever happened to having fun (the black-eyed susan's message)? Even in the adult world, it seems the competitive mindset has infiltrated all our activities. With a "winning is everything" attitude, some people are tempted to tweak things so the results come out in their favor. But while the world may love the winners, it surely hates a cheater. Justice will be served and accounts will be paid. Play hard but fairly. As an Italian proverb states, “Once the game is over, the King and the pawn go back in the same box.”