I Don't Have the Competitive Spirit to Watch the Olympics

Have you been watching the winter Olympics? Kathleen has been staying up late to watch them, but Sam goes to bed and I read a book or go to bed when the Olympics come on because frankly, the Olympics are kind of boring. I mean, how many skiers can you watch shuss-booming down a snowy slope? After the first three, they all look the same. How many pretty young girls can you watch whirl around the skating rink without becoming bored? They all look the same. Z-z-z-z-!

I’m probably not a good American because I’m not very competitive. I don’t really care what our medal count is either. Don’t get me wrong. I like to win as much (or more) than the next person (get between me and a cookie and you’ll find out). I just don’t generally see the need to compete. For instance, I usually refuse to play cards or board games with Kathleen because when we play somebody has to lose. I don’t like to lose and I don’t like to beat Kathleen because what kind of marriage can be truly happy when one spouse is constantly beating the other? Kathleen did get to the point where she was consistently beating me at Scrabble - so I quit.

We humans must be born with a competitive gene in our DNA or something. The first competition in which somebody lost was when Cain slew Able because Cain was jealous of the fact that God blessed Able and “had no regard for Cain and his offering.” (Gen. 4:5). It seems like we can’t do anything in this life without turning it into a competition. I read a cool story in a magazine recently where this guy was talking about the joy of riding a bicycle without being sucked into a racing competition. Boy could I relate. I’m really glad the Seattle Seahawks won the super Bowl and I have to confess I get really upset when they make bonehead plays and lose. But I’ve never cared for team sports much because in team sports you have to depend on other players to help you win and I would rather sink or swim on my own.

Life seems so competitive. Even when you win an Olympic event or a golf tournament or tennis match or football or basketball game, you can’t rest on your laurels for very long because sooner or later someone is going to come along and knock you off your throne. It’s the same way with writing this blog. You know how many bloggers are on line competing for your attention? I try not to think about that and remind myself I’m doing this because I just want to get my two cents in, but gosh, the competition! And books! Look at the thousands of books in the stores. Do you know how many people (like me) are self publishing now and competing for your attention?

I was never quite sure during the sixties why so many people wanted to “drop out,” but when I think of having to compete all the time and NOT wanting to, dropping out seems to be a pretty attractive alternative.

Excuse me now I have to make the 5-yard dash to the bathroom. Wonder if I can beat my previous best time?