I’ve realized something just now: I breathe to excel, not to compete. After all, if you simply excel in your endeavors, it is only the others who will be competing.. not you.
I now understand why it is that I never really had a huge competitive nature: because the only one I care to compete with is my own self. I have no need to compete with others, because how can I judge myself to be better or worse than someone else? Well, I choose not to judge on that level.. I am only human, and it is by choice that I do not hold myself above or below anyone, but simply want to do the best.. for my own sake.
When I ran track (back in high school), I never attempted to “compete” with other runners, but rather to beat my own time. I never really enjoyed the competitive side of it, but since that was a part of being on the team, I did it. It did feel nice to have beaten a few when in the home stretch, as they thought they could overtake me, but it was myself I wanted to prove to that I could push harder, go further, faster. That is the healthy part of the competition; it helps you realize that you really CAN go farther, do more, faster, and be stronger .
: ) Realizing this and thinking back on that, it makes me smile. It also gives me confidence to know I can.
beatrixszucs 