Wait, I got that wrong, didn't I?
As you can see, I'm not much of a sports nut. I certainly don't ever rearrange my schedule to watch games, and I usually don't even know who is playing at major events like the Super Bowl. You guys are probably gasping at my declaration and wondering if I am, in fact, an American, but sports just aren't my thing, ya know?
It probably relates to my clumsiness, as sports and tripping don't usually make good bedfellows. (If you don't believe me, then just watch this video. Seriously, watch it. You'll die laughing.) I was the kid who always, always got picked last during P.E. (Isn't that the most humiliating thing ever? Do they still do that in schools? It should be banned IMHO.) It also probably relates to my passive nature. I'm just not very competitive. I think if I were in the Hunger Games, I'd be the first one to die just because I don't have that drive to win. (BTW, did you see it? Wasn't it awesome? It gets high marks from me on one of the best book to movie conversions, as we talked about on this post, and Jennifer Lawrence was the perfect Katniss. Loved her!)
Do you think that being competitive (or not competitive) is just part of our make-up, or do you think it's a learned behavior? I think it's both. And I think I have learned to be even less competitive as the years go on, probably due to the fact that I have never won anything (but hey, that does not make me a loser. Stop with the name calling, will ya?). I suspect that fear of failure keeps me from trying to compete in things. Likewise, I would imagine that if you won something, you would want to keep competing in order to feel that euphoria again.
Are you a competitive person? What events do you compete in? (I don't even keep up with the Jones', so you know I'm not at all competitive.)
Do you like sports? Which ones? Are you a participant or an observer? (Basketball is my favorite. I love to watch it, even when played by middle-schoolers. And I used to play. I warmed the bench.)
Is there a hobby that you have that you wished was a competitive event: like sewing, bread-making, rock-collecting, or playing the accordion? (I guess all of those hobbies can be competitive if you are in 4H or something. And I'm not going to answer this as typing seems to be my only hobby these days.)
So ready, set, go: leave your reply. And yes, this is a competition. :)
11 comments:
Am I first? Did I win? Was I the fastest? I was going to take my time replying until you said that this was a competition, and then my animal instincts kicked in, ha ha : ). To answer your question, I think that my competitive nature must be mostly inherited, because it seems to run in my family. That's why we have so much fun playing games (board games, outdoor games in the yard...) when we get together. At our last reunion we had a blast with our "Minute to Win It" games evening--that was the best. The good thing is that even though we all love to try to win, I think we're also okay at losing. We play just for the fun of it.
My favorite thing in the whole world to compete in is racquetball, because sometimes I win, and even if I don't, I win because I've burned lots of calories and my sweaty workout clothes and occasional bruises act as my trophies for that day. Sorry if that grosses you out, but it's true ;).
I also like to compete as a singer. I don't mean that I've entered a lot of singing competitions, but anytime I get the solo in a song, I consider myself the winner. I'm kind of embarrassed thinking that I can be such an ego-maniac, but I don't think I'd have been able to enjoy so many solo experiences if this weren't part of my nature. Solos are the best! I remember when I was a kid and our family used to go Christmas caroling--I used to ask if I could please sing one song all by myself, ha ha : ). No one seemed to mind too much, even if they were laughing at my arrogance on the side.
As for other sports, I'm really not good at any, but I have fun playing soccer, baseball/softball/wiffle ball, and I enjoy watching basketball and football. You probably won't find me sitting to watch a game on TV, though, unless I'm multitasking.
Now I'm going to go watch the video clips you referenced... I hope you have a winning day!
Darn it! New puppy made me late for work and I wasn't the first to post! ;)
Anyway, I'm not much of a sports person. I love watching sports and I LOVE watching football. I'd say the only bad thing about getting married was that Steve doesn't watch football much with me and we got rid of our cable, so I never get to watch it anymore. That being said, if that's the worst thing about marriage, I'd never trade to watch football :)And it's more getting rid of the cable than anything.
In middle school, I played volleyball, but not being much of a fan of the girls on the teams in middle school and high school, that was the end of my volleyball career. I was still involved with sports though, from the supporter side. I went to every football and boys basketball game in the valley and I was a track manager for 3 years. In college, my guy friends that lived next door were their own team for our ward in all of the sports, so I went to all of those games to avoid homework.
Any hobbies that I enjoy are in fact, competitive events but I think that takes the fun out. Here they are: sewing, cooking, fishing, camping (but I don't think that's competitive), photography, technology related (making videos, etc), learning to do my acrylic nails, and my RAD courses (which I'd love to get started here).
This last event, I know I'd be the very best at so I wish it were competitive (but not really, because I don't want people trying to take my place) - I'd be the very best at spending time with my hubby and dogs and enjoying it. :)
Competitive yes, but because I suck at all sports!! Love them, but don't have a sporty bone in my body. Now, if clumsiness was a sport I would win, and I have to say the first and second time I have ever won anything was on this blog. Hooray (Crowd cheers here). Anywho, I am one of those crazy competitive moms. The one who has to sit away from the crowd cuz I get a little loud and crazy when my kids play. I try to contain myself, but when a call is bad, I
think in the heat of the moment that it will be changed if I make enough fuss! Silly me!
Loved playing volleyball in high school, but now just find my self watching the sports I SIGN my kids up to play. So I must be a little competitive or I would at least ask them if they even want to play.
JazznJenna: I could sense your animal instinct! You did win the fastest response: pat yourself on the back for being the early bird (because that's the only prize you'll get for it! Ha ha!) I've actually never played racquetball, so you'll have to teach me. Although since I've been hit in the forehead with a tennis ball, maybe racquetball wouldn't be so good for me. :)
Nicole:You will make a great mother of boys. I have watched my boys play many football games and I still don't understand much more than "Touchdown!"
What are RAD courses? Do tell me more. The last event is the most important one--it makes you a real winner!
Nuts! I missed two comments. Here we go again:
Team C:I've already won the clumsiness award and there is no way you can take it away from me! (Wow, I got a bit competitive there, didn't I?) Have you ever got kicked out a game? That would be a sight to see, especially if it was at church ball!
Leslie: That made me laugh! Kids aren't allowed opinions about what they want to do with their lives until they are at least 21, right? I'm too much of wimp for volleyball: it always hurt my arms!
FOUL because I'm in a later time zone and I have to go to school! J/k AHEM! I'M the REAL winner of the clumsiness award; my first year of girls camp I was awarded the clutziest camper! I got a certificate and a Butterfinger. I actually grilled my shoes on accident and fell of the bleachers at campfire because my butt fell asleep. So HA! (teehee, all competitive about being a clutz. This is the best!)
My favorite sport is soccer because I played it when I was younger, all my brothers play it, Noble(my brother on a mission) is bomb at it (but he only played his Freshman year of highschool because the team was mostly "Mehicano" and were really mean!), and it seems the least ridiculous. (Oh, dang! Burn to other sports! j/k)
I always thought things am good at should be more recognized. I like singing as well. I am the very proud section leader of the soprano 1s in our advanced choir. However I think brain games like Boggle, Scattergories, Catch-a-phrase, and other games I'm good at should be more recognized. I love playing thinking games but my family hates playing them with me because I have a tendency to win. Noble wouldn't mind. Too bad he's half-way around the world on a mission...
Oh regarding last weeks comment; Yes Lori, I have thought about my future last name because really, can you see a Devree Smith or some other regular last name? I don't think so. So take my foul into consideration and then you can foul me for unsportsman-like conduct or whatever. :D
Lori- RAD is Rape Aggression Defense. It's a self defense course for women. I'm a certified instructor and I use to help teach classes while I was in school, but I haven't been able to teach them down here. I tried doing it with the Young Women when I was in that calling but then we moved.
We have competitive stair racing here at our home. We do it individually & time it and race against each other's time. That's probably pretty smart. That could be an injury just waiting to happen if we doubled up on our stairs. It would probably end like a recent snowshoe race I had. There is a fun steep and long downhill that we love to race down. This particular day I took some friends who were new to the sport. I thought I had them beat, easy. But as I somersaulted face first down the hill, I realized that I had loaned out my poles to someone else and I was now being passed. I picked myself up and took off again, coming close to catching the one in front of me. But the end of the hill would happen before I could catch her. So I did what any person in second place would do - I did a diving tackle and took her down. And just as I landed I remembered that she had shoulder surgery not 10 days before! I felt luck a schmuck. But she laughed and laughed and laughed. And so did I. We are still friends. She must be just as competitive as I.
Oh, no! Am I too late? I forgot about the rest of this crazy country going to daylight savings. I come from what we loving call a "sports retarded" family. Not PC, I know. I was a gymnast in my early years, but I'm not a really competitive person. I love March Madness!! I don't love that the Final Four games are going to be played during conference, though. Who's bright idea was that? Um, what else? I did competitive street marching in band in CA. I grew up the only girl in a family of boys, so everyday was a bit of a competition for survival. Okay, that's it. Sorry to be so disjointed, but I have to make it in before the buzzer.
Devree: how high up on the bleachers were you when you fell? You could have totally broken your neck! Keep flexing your cheeks next time to keep them awake! OK, OK, you can have the clumsy award. And just so you know, you made me laugh like always!
Nicole: you kick butt! I would love to see you in action.
Paulashawn: You should have shared that story on our embarrassing moments post, although the other one was pretty darn awesome. But I don't think I will ever go snowshoeing with you. You are vicious!
Sally: cutting it kind of close, aren't ya? I hope that didn't leave you too breathless. I hope you have one of those split screen tv thingies so you can watch both conf. and the games at the same time. :) I love how you worded that your life was a competition for survival. I'm sure that's how my daughter feels.
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