Some Thoughts about Competition

Sky is the limit.

We all know that our culture is very competitive, but are we really aware of details? Let’s look at some of them.

One day we find ourselves not happy with just running. And we start to inquire about running competitions for non-professionals. Maybe even the whole classic marathon: 42 kilometers. We get bored with the same old grind three times a week and we want more. We want to compete. And we join running events. We will compete. That’s the spirit. We managed to turn our spare time into a struggle. Like the struggle of our job, which is inevitable, was not enough. I guess the running competitions are just fine, only if you do not take the result too seriously. If you only enjoy the scenery and the social event as it is.

In our spare time we also play games. But aren’t they all about competition? Most of them, starting with chess. Yes, yes, I know it’s just for fun, but the games show us how competitive our culture really is. Don’t you think?

Even if we do not compete with others, we can always compete with ourselves. Am I better than last year? How many mountain peaks will I conquer this year? How many books have I read last year?

Some traditional cultures punish the most successful people, while we make them like gods. We worship sportswomen and sportsmen, and we put a lot of stress on winning awards like the Oscars for example.

Competition is something we teach our kids in school. First there is the system of grades, but there are also pure competitions in various fields like mathematics for example. That is how our kids learn that it is essential to do the race, to be the best, to be somebody. The struggle must go on.

I’m not saying we should start punishing the most successful people. That would be the other extreme. It’s just that simple feeling I have that, once you are back from work, maybe there should be no more competition. Or perhaps a bit of it, but as long as it is fun.

Take care,

Helena Smole, author of:

– a fantasy novel with romance Vivvy and Izzy the Dwarf: A series about relationships

– Balancing the Beast, a book offering a bright view of schizoaffective disorder ˗ bipolar or manic-depressive type