Winning
Neither have I, well, actually, I edited this to correct my statement: I no longer understand it.
I sat and watched (with pride) the parade my child was in as she was a part of a team. But the mixed emotions come into play (so strongly) because everything our kids are taught is all about competition. It was a competition. The video was their "performance" in front of judges. I wanted to cry.
Whatever happened to "just having fun for fun's sake"???
Learning for learning's sake.
Loving, for loving's sake.
Getting healthy because it's important, not just so you have an "edge" over "the other guy".
"I want to be prettier/handsomer than that...bla bla bla."
It is engrained in us from day one. It was, is, and will continue to be sad, pathetic, and just plain gross.