Thursday Thoughts | Competition

Some days certain topics or situations bother me more than others and I just want to scream.

I decided to hold back my scream and write about it instead.

Why is everything such a competition?

Let me start by saying that I am pretty darn competitive when it comes to sports.

Yes, I want to do my best and win...but sometimes I don't.

And while it can sting a bit, I get over it and move on.

Believe it or not sports are actually less competitive these days than I would like.

For example: Tryouts

(Said in my old person voice)...Back in my day you used to have to tryout for the sport/team you wanted to be on.

And when tryouts were over they placed a list on door somewhere indicating who made the team.

Simple.

Kids who didn't make the team were upset, but they got over it.

The ones who really wanted to be on that team practiced and worked hard and tried out again the next year.

And some of them made the team.

Nowadays everyone makes the team :(
But it is even worse than getting cut in my opinion.

If you don't make "the team", you make a second team or what some schools call the "B team".

Seriously???

I understand it may keep kids out of trouble, they may practice more this way than at home, etc.

But when do they ever learn the lesson that you don't always win?

Or how to lose gracefully?

Does the school your kids attend do this?

Now let's flip that to every day stuff like what clothes you wear, how tall you are, what teacher you have, what kind of car you drive, where you live, etc.
There is even competition over who is being the better mom and dad!

This drives me nuts!

I did not grow up in a super competitive family or town (again, other than sports).

Everyone seemed to be the same.

It still feels that way when I go back home.

Why is everyone so concerned with one upping each other in every aspect of their lives?

Why can't we just be ourselves, drive whatever we want, live wherever, have tall kids/short kids, etc. and just not care about how everyone else is doing it?

Why must jabs be thrown any chance someone gets for just 10 seconds of gratification?

I just don't get it.

I am the first one to downplay where I live, the car I drive, the clothes I wear, etc.

And you better believe I do it to my kid as well!

I know he is a smart, cute kid who seems to be pretty darn athletic...but most the time I downplay that too.

I never for a second want anyone to think that I feel I am better than them!

Because I don't!

So for the sake of...let's go with everyone out there, JUST STOP!