Sunday Scribblings # 88 Competition

A game of Trivial Pursuit or Canasta is the best and only competition for me now!

Isn’t competition supposed to mean to strive, to achieve, to seek rivalry - don’t you think people have got that out of perspective? Isn’t competition difference, shouldn’t healthy competition go hand in hand with mutual respect?

Nothing irks me to the core, more, than when a story is being told and you can hear the so called listener, drawing breath, busting at the seams, revving up, ready to one up your story and blurt out, what they consider a similar or better story to the one you’re telling … communication isn’t a competition … don’t you want to scream “IT’S NOT A COMPETITION!!”

Like when you’re expecting a comment, relevant to what you’ve said or written and you receive a diatribe that’s only relevant to the other person! The people who dismiss your thoughts or contribution as they make it all about them as if your opinion is only a stepping stone to bore you with what’s going on in their own head … that’s infuriating, detestable competition.

Entering a competition, feeling sure that your entry is the winning one – no-one ever tells you not to lose heart if you don’t win. No one tells you competition is about difference. The opinion of the person judging or marking more than likely will never be the same as your’s … do these people ever realise how they frequently hurt people, deeply, because of their “qualified” judgement …

Best competitions are surely the competition of two sporting teams, especially if it’s 'your' team, the one you adore ... the exhilaration if your team wins …

The competition of your kids and grandkids vying for your attention is superb…

Of your dogs running towards you with their tails wagging off their backsides is the best or fluffy cats purring and pushing each other out of the way to get to your ankles is adorable competition ...

... but the very best of all is when you're feeling good inside after you've accomplished, beaten the odds, when the only person you had to compete against was the most important person you know ...YOU!

Wikipedia says ~~~
Competition is the rivalry of two or more parties over something. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which coexist in an environment with limited resources. For example, animals compete over water supplies, food, and mates. In addition, humans compete for attention, wealth, prestige, and fame.

… who are those people who said competition is healthy … bah humbug???