Is it pathetic to try?

It's election season. And I see these candidates who have no chance of winning. But they try. Some barely try. Some desperately try.  Even before the elections, I've had this question in my head, "Is it pathetic to try"?

Is it pathetic to try when you have no chance of winning? How would you know that you have no chance of winning? By trying, heh. That's how you test the waters. I definitely had moments when I thought I had no chance of doing something but that was the pessimist in me talking. Almost always, the reality is so much better than the scenario in my head. Sometimes all we need is a little bit of hope.

What does winning even mean? Is it attaining a goal? Perhaps. I guess sometimes I don't try because I don't wanna be seen as weak. The excuse "I didn't even try anyways" will come in handy. Your ego won't be hurt. Because if you tried your hardest and you gave it your all, and you still didn't get it, what does that say about you? I guess it's contextual. How much do I want it? Do I really need to do it? Is it worth the embarrassment? Making a fool of myself?

But there are situations where it's obvious you've lost but you won't ever admit it. Perhaps because of pride. Perhaps because you want to go back to a happier place in the past. I recall that scene in the movie One More Chance where Popoy was begging Basha to come back. Perhaps I'm too prideful because I don't see myself doing that. I won't say ever because I don't want karma to come back at me. But the way I am and the state of mind that I'm in, I don't see myself begging for someone's love. But hey, matters of the heart are a different category altogether. It defies logic.

But I can also see myself rooting for someone who obviously wants something so much that they're willing to do everything to get it. You've worked so hard you deserve to get that at least. Not that we're entitled to success just because we work had. It just increases the surface area of luck.

 

So to answer the question, "Is it pathetic to try"? It's no. Almost always no. But we have to discern when we've lost the fight. We're allowed to appeal maybe once or twice. More than that is just foolish, I guess. It's like kicking a dead horse and willing it to be alive. Sometimes we have to concede defeat. Move on and onto the next one.