For want of a nail....

There is an old rhyme that goes "For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; for want of a horse the rider was lost; for want of a rider the battle was lost; for want of a battle the kingdom was lost; and all for the want of a nail".
I guess this has been on my mind lately for a number of reasons; firstly in my fencing at the moment I feel I am not quite operating the way I should. Over the last few weeks there have been a number of occasions where for want of a fraction of an inch or an iota of more control I would have scored a valid hit. In some instances this might have meant me getting more points and maybe (just maybe) winning the match. That's the thing with sport; it's a constant succession of moments that accumulate into a result, sometimes quickly and sometimes gradually over time. I can't think of any sports where this doesn't apply in some way.
The second reason this is preying on my mind is that the Olympics are about to start in Beijing. This obviously doesn't directly relate to me but the thing is I have a very good friend who came within a whisker of qualifying to go as part of the fencing team but missed out by one result. To be honest I'm finding it difficult to deal with all the coverage and hoo-ha surrounding the team as I keep thinking that she should be there. But for want of a nail.... It's amazing to think that the smallest difference can create significant changes in the course of people's lives. Of course, this doesn't just apply to sport but life in general. This got me to thinking about what we get out of such experiences in our lives? And I don't think I have an answer. What I can say is that I think the impact of something depends on what we attach to it. Do I sit and dwell on all the things I could/should have done differently in that match? At work? That time ten years ago in the pub? That time twenty years ago at college? Etc etc etc. Those who know me will point out that I can be a bit of a dweller but I've got better at this over the years. What I have learnt is that there are degrees of attachment. There are the mechanics of the moment i.e. I should have made that move, should have gone there, should have hit that point etc; then there is the emotional luggage "it would have been so much better if..", "I would have been much happier if..." etc etc. This is the stuff that is pointless to go through. That moment has gone and it ain't coming back pilgrim. You can learn from it but you can never have it again. Take a resolution to do it differently next time but don't ponder over something that you can't change. Take pride in your efforts because by trying to attain something and learning from the experience you demonstrate your true character. I'm sure my friend will deal with her disappointment and return a stronger person and it's obvious that I need to take my own advice on this but I thought I'd share it!