Patricia Sargeant

Wanna Arm Wrestle?

I’ve never considered myself to be a competitive person. We can’t control what other people accomplish or the rewards their achievements earn. It seems frustrating to try to “beat” someone when so much is out of our control.

Instead, I’ve focused on competing against myself. We have greater—although not total—control over what we can accomplish. For example, if I wrote X number of words during a sprint, I’d try for X plus 25 words for the next sprint. Competing against myself was my greatest motivation.

Or so I thought.

At the beginning of the summer, my husband and I found a new park in which to walk. It’s an enormous, sprawling area with different sections: waterfalls, lakes, mountain biking paths, dog parks. It’s fabulous. It also has rolling hills and steeper hills.

Michael and I tried one of those steeper hills. It was challenging. It woke muscles in my posterior I hadn’t realized had been asleep. Imagine my surprise. I’ve nicknamed the path Butt Burner. (Actually, I use a less PG term but this is a family-friendly space.)

About a mile from Butt Burner is a much longer, steeper hill. From a distance, we saw several people walking up, then back down it. One or two people jogged up it. That was all we needed to see. The next day, we found our way to the hill. That’s when I had second thoughts.

From the bottom of the hill.

From a mile away, it looked like a long, steep hill. Up close, it was like a wall going straight to the sky. Michael strode to the base of the hill like he was walking into Home Depot or Lowe’s: confident, prepared, determined. I paused to read the nearby signage. “Park Closes at Dusk.” Too soon, it was time to climb.

Did I mention the hill was steep? I felt as though I was walking straight up. About a third of the way to the top, I questioned my common sense. Halfway up, I struggled to catch my breath. A quarter of the way from the top, I debated whether it would be easier to crawl to the top.

From the top of the hill.

The whole time, Michael kept encouraging me.

“Control your breathing.”

“You can do this.”

“Do you need help?”

When we crested the hill, I had to stop. I bent over, sucking in air. Michael had taken two steps before he realized I wasn’t with him. I leaned against him while I waited for my legs to stop shaking. When I could finally see straight, I realized this wasn’t the end. We were just getting started. The fact Michael could stroll to the top, then keep moving really got to me.

It’s on. It’s all the way on and I need to best that hill.

Readers, are you a competitive person? If so, who’s your favorite competition?

29 thoughts on “Wanna Arm Wrestle?”

  2. Good on ya for keeping going! In my younger days, I used to have a competitive streak. Now, I keep my focus on my own victories-getting out of bed without pulling a muscle, getting the car without forgetting my keys. Small victories. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  4. I say I’m not competitive. This is a lie. LOL

    Early in our relationship, The Hubby and I went to swim in The Quarry, which is a well-known, well, quarry in Sherkston, Ontario. It is quite deep in the middle. The Hubby asked if I wanted to swim across and of course I said “sure.” Halfway there, I wanted to quit. But I couldn’t. We made it all the way across. The Hubby asked, “Are you up for swimming back?” Again, I said “sure.” By the time I reached the starting point, my arms felt like limp noodles.

    Turns out, he only kept going because he didn’t want to look bad in front of me. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  5. That park looks gorgeous! I’m jealous.

    I’m not remotely sports-competitive but I’ve always been career-competitive. I’d probably not constantly be battling my weight if it was the reverse because one involves challenging yourself physically while the other requires parking your butt in a chair!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. The park is a dream. Perfect. I’m so glad Michael found it. I’m not sport-competitive, not usually. I don’t know what it is about that hill. I can’t let it go. I’ve gotten better at climbing it. I don’t have to stop once I get to the top anymore. And I no longer feel like crying. LOL! But I still struggle to catch my breath. As for my career – rotflmbo – it’s not so much the milestones; it’s the money. Gotta make this gig work. Ha!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. I’m not very competitive vis à vis others, but against myself, very much so. Robin and I play pickleball once a week, and it comes out strong there–I get really frustrated when I commit unforced errors like hitting the ball into the net. So much so that Robin had to tell me that my berating myself was affecting her play. Oy. So I’m working on my Zen pickleball play….

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  9. Fun post! I am the world’s LEAST competitive person when it comes to things like board games and sports. I own a tee-shirt that I wear when I’m invited to watch sports ball that says, “I just hope both teams have fun.” But it does show up in small ways, like when someone does something and it makes me say, “If they can do that, then I can, too!” I love those little boosts that keep you going.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  10. I can be a competitive person, but I’m also realistic. I’m a runner, but I’ve always been a slow runner, so I’m not trying to beat anyone but my own records. But if a game situation, yes, I’m going to try to win.

    As to that hill? You got this!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Mark, ha! I’m a slow runner, too. I call it “wogging,” a cross between a slow walk and even slower jog. Ha! And thank you so much for your encouragement for the hill. It’s going down! LOL!

      Like

      Reply

  11. Patricia, not only did you take on that hill, but you’ve gone BACK!! Now that’s impressive. Have to say I have a competitive streak–but luckily my hubby and I have such different strengths and interests that it’s never a contest.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. I love this description so much! Can totally see it. > “Michael strode to the base of the hill like he was walking into Home Depot or Lowe’s: confident, prepared, determined” 😍

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment