I chose to explore this theme at the beginning of April because I knew I would have just come off a weekend at a Sweet Adelines Regional Competition. Our first thoughts about competition usually involve sports, but there are many other areas - including music - in which participants compete for a prize or some coveted award or status. Competition can be healthy or harmful, depending largely on attitudes and ethics. While we might feel like competition should be avoided in favor of cooperation, the drive to do well and to win is strong and can certainly be used for good!
Life is a competition not with others, but with ourselves. We should seek each day to live stronger, better, truer lives; each day to master some weakness of yesterday; each day to repair a mistake; each day to surpass ourselves. ~David B. Haight
Live daringly, boldly, fearlessly. Taste the relish to be found in competition - in having put forth the best within you. ~Henry J. Kaiser
This has been my experience competing with a chorus. Of course the goal is to win the championship, but to do that we must plan and practice and work towards being the best we can be. We make our performance the best we've got, and that, in itself, is a victory already. That's what we're responsible for - our own performance - and we hope and believe that the scores we're awarded will reflect that.
Scioto Valley Chorus got that win this past weekend. But I heard stories of other choruses and quartets that competed and didn't wind up in first place, and still won. They improved their score from previous years, or competed despite setbacks, or met their own goal in some way. I feel like it's easy for me to say that because I was in the championship chorus, but I saw it firsthand and I know it's true. One of the things that I love about Sweet Adelines is the mutual support and good sportsmanship of all the choruses. Everyone wants to win, but from what I've seen, everyone is also genuinely rooting for everyone else to do their very best.
There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes, even if you lose, you win. ~Elie Wiesel
I kinda see everyone as competition. I'm a very competitive person. But I think that's good. Competition is great. And as long as it's friendly and not a malicious thing, then I think it's cool. ~Janet Jackson
(I know this post looks different from my usual, and that's because I'm on vacation and have very limited internet access. If you're linking your post, thank you, and I'll visit as soon as I'm able!)
*********************
Wednesday Quotes is a bi-weekly opportunity for bloggers to share their writing, poetry, photos, or stories inspired by our theme. We've chosen the themes as a starting point for your creativity, and the only requirement is that your post include at least one related quote. Feel free to combine or "double-dip" with other writing or photo challenges as well. Of course, we'd appreciate a link back to us, if you'd be so kind. Add your link and please visit others and leave a comment! The link is open for two weeks.
Thanks to Marsha at Always Write for introducing us to the Wednesday Quotes challenge, and for passing the hosting duties along so we can continue sharing great quotes! Wednesday Quotes is co-hosted by Kym at A Fresh Cup of Coffee and Sadje at Keep It Alive.
Quoting reminds me there are other people in the world besides only me.
And other thoughts besides mine, and other ways of thinking.
~Gregory Maguire~
Wednesday Quotes 2025 Themes
January 8 - Planning Ahead/Setting Goals
January 22 - Winter Sleep
February 5 - Love Inspires Us
February 19 - Staying Balanced
March 5 - First Impressions
March 19 - Looking After Yourself
April 2 - Competition
April 16 - Spring Colours
April 30 - Morning Routines
May 14 - Memorable Vacations
May 28 - Telling Your Stories
June 11 - Summer Fun
June 25 - Patriotism
July 9 - Hobbies
July 23 - Being Adventurous
August 6 - Spirituality
August 20 - Writing Letters
September 3 - Chocolate
September 17 - Making and Keeping Promises
October 1 - Autumn/Another Spring
October 15 - Daily Bread
October 29 - Night Skies/Stargazing
November 12 - Good Manners
November 26 - Celebrating Holidays
December 10 - Winter Wonderland
December 24 - Holiday Memories
Don't miss a coffee break! Subscribe to A Fresh Cup of Coffee by email.
©2006-2025 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/
This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation.
