Winner

If you don't strive to be noticed,
no one will compete with you.

From The Tao Te Ching, Chapter 3

I’ve never been a fan of competition, though I’ve competed in track and distance running in high school, university, and in several decades of my adult life. There’s a certain energy in striding alongside another runner, pushing and being pushed. I loved the feeling of running a marathon! I’ve always wondered, however, why that pleasure had to be usurped by winning and losing. Why medals, accolades, triumphs, and disappointments? Why not just run, play, and then forget it?

They say that competition made this country great. How’s that working for us?

Haven’t we all had enough of, “We’re number one?” Aren’t we sick of the word, “loser?” If we eliminated. “winner,” and, “loser,” from the dictionary wouldn’t we be better off?

The Tao knows nothing of winning and losing.