Failure.

I don’t know what mean-spirited person thought up the word Failure, but I simply don’t believe it exists. It is a grouping of letters with absolutely no meaning for me.

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” ~ Maya Angelou

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” ~ Thomas A. Edison

Our sport’s psychologist, Dr. Parham, affectionately known as Dr. P says, “Failure is an Inventive term.” He invites you to consider that in every instance one hasn’t “failed” at anything but instead has “succeeded” in measurable increments that can be processed as positive or negative.

This past year the UCLA Gymnastics team set a goal to win the National Championship. We finished 5th. It doesn’t equate to failure. It means we didn’t perform well enough to earn enough points to take first place. Facts: We finished higher than we’d been ranked all year. We hit 48 for 48 routines at the NCAA championships. We stuck more landings in those two meets than we did all season. We reached the pinnacle of Coach Wooden’s pyramid of Success – Competitive Greatness: “to be able to be your best when your best is needed.”

There’s a distinct difference in my mind between not reaching a goal and failure. Failure has a mean-spirited finality to it. There probably are some grave instances where I could conjure up a description of failure, but I believe they would all include something extreme like death.

I first started thinking of this concept when I was writing my speech for my induction into the UCLA Hall of Fame. I was 50 and I realized for the first time that I wasn’t brought up with a concept of failure. This is something I attribute to my incredibly loving mother. In every circumstance I can remember she would unemotionally talk with me about the fact that if I wasn’t happy with the result then I should do something differently the next time to get a different result.

When I didn’t get cast for a particular part in a ballet that I really wanted she’d say, “Oh honey, don’t worry. They must be looking for something specific for that part.” When I was told I didn’t get cast because I wasn’t thin enough (aka my chubby phase) she said, “Honey, don’t get upset. You’re just not ready to be disciplined enough to get in better shape. If you decide to do that, I’m sure a lot more parts will come your way.” … Ouch… truth hurts.

We’re about to head into another Olympic season. There will be more athletes around the world who don’t make it to Rio than do. I would hate for any of those who don’t make their teams to feel like “failures.” I honestly don’t believe if you’ve done your best at preparing, and given your full effort in competition that there’s any credence to “failure” if you fall short of achieving your ultimate goal.

I remember track & field star, Gail Devers, being interviewed after not medaling in the 2004 Olympic games. The reporter said something like, “I know you must be disappointed not winning the Gold.” Gail respectfully replied, “What are you talking about? The last Olympics I knocked over the hurdles and didn’t even finish the race. Not to mention 14 years ago I was diagnosed with Graves disease and almost had to have my feet amputated. I just finished the race at the Olympics, I’m thrilled!” I remember shouting “HECK YES GAIL!” at the TV in support of her ability to see the big picture while still fresh from the heat of the battle. #fellowUCLABruin

I vote to expunge this F word from the dictionary. Who’s with me?