Competition woes

 We live in a competitive society. Many of us have favorite teams we cheer for in many sports and then we have the Olympics coming up  - hopefully this year  - and we cheer for our USA teams. We also have other events where we experience competition. As part of Toastmasters International I am involved not only in improving my speaking and leadership skills, but as a District Chief Judge I oversee the voting in the speech contests that determine who moves forward in that competition. And several years ago while I experienced a short stretch of unemployment I was involved in competing for jobs, often without seeing or knowing who I was competing with.

Everybody loves a winner, and struggles with losing. Sometimes it can affect our moods and attitudes. In my 20's and 30's when my favorite team lost a game it ruined my day. I was so involved that I took it personally, even though it did not materially affect my day. I had to mentally remind myself "it's just a game" and almost militantly take myself to task to separate my emotions from it. I have seen it take hold of people and result in destructive behavior, either external or internal. 

I have seen it at international competitions, like the Olympics, where rooting for our own national teams takes priority and overshadows the appreciation for the skill and sportsmanship of others with whom we share this planet. We deprive ourselves and others in that way and do the sport a diservice.

But it is not just involved with sports.. I'd like to have you briefly consider two other arenas where competition can be destructive.  I  up grew up in a supportive family with supportive parents and siblings. I was the baby of the family, with four older sisters.  I am glad that my parents didn't play favorites, we were all treated with equal value. No one had to compete for our parent's love - it was given freely and without conditions. Our vacations each summer were a bonding experience and have resulted in annual family reunions that continued for 30 years only interrupted by last year's covid outbreak. I have known many people who did not have that and it makes me sad.

And  as a nation we also have another arena where competition has no place. That arena is healthcare. Having been a worker in the system for 30 years I have seen the set up and downfall of it and how it affects people. I work for a company that is dedicated to helping people get access to healthcare. But the overall system is based on competition -companies competing for members and so many rules on what is covered and how much. We are fortunate that the testing and vaccines have been covered at no cost, but it has people wondering why couldn't we have this apply to healthcare in general, so that people would not have to put off needed treatment due to either finances or rules.

We always do better when we cooperate as  people to solve problems. So don't get caught up in competition, winners versus losers. Let's seek to cooperate more, and all be winners.:)