https://soundcloud.com/lifetheuniverseandlani/why-i-dont-compete-with-other
As an American, not competing seems almost blasphemous, but I feel the world is competitive enough. And fighting against each other under this idea of finite resources is overrated, freezing, and frankly part of the reason why we lack compassion.
Blogger Lisa Kramer wrote this thought-provoking article and she asks, Do you ever read things that make you doubt your path? Because she had just finished reading an amazing book, and she was โquestioningโ herself as a writer.
I immediately thought, no. When I read something like her article, I open a word document and get writing. Or I jot down notes or pull out quotes from good books. I get inspired. I love reading, and I push away any thoughts that my writing canโt be good enough in comparison to someone else’s.
Itโs not because I have an overinflated ego or sense of self, itโs just I believe you can be good at what you do, and I can be good at what I do, too. Even if we are both writing about education, teaching, or Thailand, you and I are going to have different points of view. You and I have different interpretations on a green bean casserole. And some folks might prefer your mushy soft recipe over my crunchy topped one, and thatโs normal.
Somewhere between young and mature adult I decided I wasnโt going to be jealous of other women anymore. She could be pretty and so could I. And somehow between blogging about Thailand and my experiences here, I decided the market is super saturated with Thailand bloggers and I donโt really want to be one of them.
I know me. And I am not passionate about travel blogging, and sharing all those ins and outs of the country I currently reside in. Now, donโt get me wrong, because I live here, I donโt mind blogging about what I know. Yet, at the end of the 7-11 day, I know itโs teaching, education and writing that really gets me excited, and Thailand is only the backdrop, and setting to the current stage of my life.
For my online writing course, I finished writing and researching about the privatization of public education in the US which is built upon the premise of creating a โfree marketโ within our school systems. So the theme of competition is all over my mind.
Look, I can be competitive โ to the point of being an embarrassment. I hate losing games and I love smack talk. But when Iโm engaged with other writers, who are so incredible, I donโt think, โIโm doomed! Whaahahahahha.โ Instead, Iโm thinking, โWow! Hot damn, youโre good.โ I guess because I donโt want your ability to shine to make me think I canโt shine, too. Maybe your spotlight will be bigger and thatโs okay. I donโt mind.
But what do I know? To the writing world, the teaching world, the blogging world, Iโm essentially – a nobody. Yet, I find it far more interesting to cooperate rather than compete with my fellow writers, teachers and bloggers. Iโd rather smile at a beautiful woman than seethe inside over my perceived inadequacies. And Iโd rather draw inspiration from my fellow writers and teachers, and hopefully they do the same in return, than wish I was better, put them down, or simply give up.
What do you think?
Life, the Universe, and Lani 
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