Why Compete?

Why Compete?

Why do people compete with one another? Is it some inherent quality that we have had since the cavemen? Just look at the faces of the winners during the Olympics. Huge grins and happy tears. As I said in my book TatWitt, sometimes we just need a pat on the back.

Is competing in poetry challenges and contests the same? Yes, just as the boxer trains by his roadwork, jumping rope, and working the speed bag so does the poet. The poet shadowboxes with words and builds up the stamina by revising and revising over and over. His speed bag is the fast challenge that makes his mind work quickly. A monthly contest is where the roadwork pays off. The more the poet enters contests the better are his chances of winning. He learns his opponent and faces the adversity. He learns when to jab, when to throw an uppercut, and when to duck. His mental acumen increases with every bout. He develops a keen eye to spot errors and fix them before it can become a black eye. The more the poet works out and listens to his trainer, the better his skills become.

Take a challenge. Enter a contest. The more bouts under your belt, the more relaxed you become in the ring.