Handling failure...an art form

Kyle Williams has been injured and recently came off the injury list to help the 49ers in their championship playoff game with the NY Giants last Sunday.

He probably wishes he had stayed home in bed!

Kyle made two costly errors that resulted in the Giants getting the football on the 49er 24 and 29 yard line in the last quarter and overtime, eventually handing them the three points they needed to win a narrow victory and earn a berth in the Super Bowl.

Part of big game responsibilities for both winners and losers is to face the press.  For Kyle, he also had to face his coaches and team mates.  He did all of this, in my humble opinion, perfectly.  It was almost an art form in itself of how to respond to failure.

Kyle had an injured shoulder and refused to use it as an excuse for his costly overtime fumble.  He applauded his team mates affirmation of him, and stood courageously before the press answering every question directed at him.

And he did it with integrity and dignity.

I had wondered aloud if he would ever pick up a  football again. What a  way to be remembered!  Not one mistake...but two...and a forfeited appearance in the game of all games for any football player or fan.

Kyle Williams will play football again, and I am betting, he will play for the 49ers.

I'm guessing, at least for me, he will be remembered NOT for the two costly errors he made in a championship game, but for his courage and grace in the face of failure.

We fail, too.  It is easy to fold up our tents and disappear from the scene of the "crime".  It is noteworthy when we face our failures, recognize them as an inevitable part of life without making excuses, and vow to move forward to a new day, wiser for lessons learned.

It's the right way to be remembered.