Bitter Sweet Trumps Sour

I'm just making barely enough wins over loses in the win/lost column to make chess the game worth my while.  The last game is what keeps me in play as I felt I was in the zone and could do no wrong.  Was it that review of an old hypnotic recording which prompted me to play a good game this time?  I made short order of my last opponent and he was around the same rating as I.  Like what Joe Montana said to me on a talk show if you hate losing more than you like winning this would have to be what was on his mind at the time he is in control of his precious but limited time to win it or not.