Do you realize that the world has become very competitive? Everywhere we go, wherever there's more than two individuals being placed together in a same room working on the same thing, they are bound to somehow end up in a competitive manner. Plus the society nowadays is somewhat more developed so to speak. Its people are generally better educated (higher intelligence due to better nutrition??). Whatever the reason is, don't you feel that the whole environment is in such a racing manner and the next second you actually find yourself running at a race track (regardless you like it or not)?
Sometimes I wonder how many of us can truly avoid the race? How many will end up not gaining a single negative impact from the race? If the competition is purely for better improvement, then that's a healthy one. I'm sure we all won't mind being recruited in the race. But the fact that reality is a little cruel. All these races have been shaped as a survival game, either you win or lose. And worse still is the vast majority of the runners in the race track have a different mentality now. All they could think of is how to be the champion. The "loser" word sounds so horrible and no one wishes to be called so. There's no more athlete spirit now. We even find bets are placed on these races. Those putting their bets are so concerned about winning money, sometimes they will put an innocent person in the race without respecting the person's will.
So what can you do if you happen to be the runner in such a pathetic situation? Give up the race? Oh... probably we don't have the leisure to pick this option because it's either you continue swimming or you will sink at the pool! Instead of struggling to win the race or hating the race, probably adjusting our mentality serves the best antidote. It doesn't matter how fast the other swimmers or runners are. We just have to make sure we continue swimming and not drowning. If we know some real professional athletes/coaches, they will tell you the best strategy of winning a race is not to stare at how fast other runners at the next lanes are but just keep your eyes straight focusing at your own lane.
If we can't change the whole atmosphere and others, we can only change ourselves. Competition by and large motivates us for better improvements. But we have to makesure we don't easily fall into the pond of stress and drown ourselves to death. It's just a game, not a true race.
No one enjoys being the loser. But the seat for the champion is limited. Even if you're the winner for this round, it doesn't mean you'll be the final winner in the end. And even if you're always sitting at the champion throne, so what? Does that mean you're smarter or better? It's all the experiences at the racing track that really matters. Don't you think so?
♥ every page of my imagination
