My grandmother was the first person to teach me how to play games. We played several games, but Rummikub was one of our favorites. My loving and caring grandmother would become that gaming warrior who always played to win. She refused to show me any mercy, acquiring sets of tiles until I watched her clear her board with a victory. Although she was her grandson, grandmother showed me no mercy. I remember the pain I felt after losing, but I remained eager to play and determined to win. Eventually we left the Rummikub tiles behind and moved on to Scrabble. Every time we played, I carefully observed Grandma's movements while thinking about my next move. Over the years she continued to beat me in both matches, but the competitions became more competitive and I gradually became a challenge to her. At the age of 13, I won a game, Rummikub, a game in which she said she was unbeatable. I felt proud. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay These games taught me more than the obvious skills. I learned to lose and win with grace. I learned to enjoy the process, regardless of the losses. I learned to be inspired by others and to think for myself. I learned to face failure and learn from loss. I learned that true victory comes from hard work and perseverance. And I learned that the strongest, most meaningful relationships are based on honesty. That's not to say those losses don't burn. I have suffered many losses in my life. I was devastated when my baseball team lost the championship game by a single point. But I was still incredibly proud of my team's effort, the work we did during the season and my own contribution on the mound. Playing games with Grandma taught me that I shouldn't focus on the loss. Instead, I focused on what I was going to improve on over the next season. Last year, Grandma was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. During her 82 years, Grandma was subjected to numerous hospital visits due to her diabetes, a stroke and a broken hip. Watching Grandma walk into another hospital didn't concern me. I knew she would struggle with this diagnosis as she did with all of her other health issues. Every time she entered a hospital, she showed what it really meant to fight to win. Winners work hard, stay focused, respect the process, and take constructive criticism well, all in pursuit of an important goal. Watching Grandma, I learned to understand that sometimes a game doesn't end, but instead changes, leading to a change in goals that may require a different method. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom EssayThe change for my grandmother's game was to survive the current illness. Unfortunately, Grandma lost that last round. I cherish the games I played with her, even the games I lost. Towards the end, the matches were more balanced and I could see how much I had gained over the years of competing. Winning was no longer my goal and I will cherish the lessons I learned from spending time with my grandmother..