All They Really Need to Know about Competition They Learned in Kindergarten

Most of what I really need
To know about how to live
And what to do and how to be
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top
Of the graduate school mountain,
But there in the sandpile at Sunday school.

These are the things I learned:

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don’t hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life –
Learn some and think some
And draw and paint and sing and dance
And play and work everyday some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world,
Watch out for traffic,
Hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder.

I couldn’t help but think of the poem “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” when I read the guest post “From Buffalo, New York, with Love. . “ by Molly Sanders Clauss on Allison and Allen Scott’s Life on the Edge blog. Although the concepts in the guest post are related to competition, they are concepts of lifelong importance – “grace in losing, modesty in winning, perseverance, integrity, honesty, and motivation.” “From Buffalo, New York, with Love. .” shows that, with the help of some wise adults, even young children can grasp what may be one of the most difficult yet important concepts to apply – trying hard and then making the best of what happens.