NatNews

Whether an individual is an athlete or not, it’s likely that at some point he or she has experienced a competitive situation in which success or winning served as either an intrinsic or extrinsic motivator. And while Vince Lombardi believed that “winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing,” and Ricky Bobby reminded everyone that “if you ain’t first, you’re last,” not everyone treats every aspect of his or her life like a competition.

A recent NatNews research initiative revealed that of the dear readers who participated in the online study, 30 percent are competitive in all areas of their lives, 66 percent are competitive in some facets but not all, and 4 percent don’t care or focus on being the top dog. Dallas resident Grant Harrell said his most competitive side shows itself in sports, particularly endurance events and golf.

“With endurance events, it’s all about maxing out my talent level, so it’s really a competition against myself—I’m not going to win the Olympics,” he said. “In golf, it’s a different story—I’m always trying to beat my friends. Overall, I’m hugely competitive with outdoor activities with a personal focus.”

Harrell said a person’s career can also be an area in which one strives to be the best, but he acknowledged that even that can change throughout the years.

“Work is super competitively driven when you’re younger, but as you age, it’s competitive against time as it seems to speed up,” he said. “You make the most of it.”

A variety of factors—including genetic, environmental, psychological, and situational—can determine a person’s level of competitiveness, which is why some individuals are more inclined to compete than others. Dallas resident Katie Butler said she has been competitive her entire life, and that has not changed for her in day-to-day adulthood.

“Every personality test I’ve ever taken has being competitive rated as my number one attribute in both my personal life and the workplace,” she said. “In school, I had to get the highest grades, be in leadership positions, get all of the solos in choir, etc. Now, I run and do half marathons and fitness competitions to feed that competitiveness.”

That lifestyle isn’t for everyone, though. Dallas-area resident Valerie Vela, who indicated that she is not an overly competitive person, said her competitiveness comes out mostly in work, though not necessarily with other individuals.

“I like to challenge myself to be better and learn more in my career,” she said. “If I see that someone I work with is excelling, then I see that as inspiration to step up my game, but I’m not trying to outdo anyone. Even though this is Pollyanna to say, I really believe we can all be successful, especially in the workplace.”

And though Vela does believe that competition can be healthy sometimes, she said it has the potential to be detrimental if that is always the sole focus.

“If someone is competitive all of the time, it can become obsessive and take the enjoyment out of life,” she said. “Aside from those who are competing professionally like athletes, it’s OK to root for someone else to win. Letting go of the need to be the best can be really freeing sometimes.”

Even Butler admitted that she doesn’t think it’s healthy to be competitive at all times, but she said for her, it’s how her mind works, so it’s self-imposed.

“Sometimes I wish I could change my brain,” she said. “I’m hardwired this way—it has made me very successful, but also it’s difficult for me to relax.”

For some individuals, too much focus on competition can lead to burnout and exhaustion or constant comparisons to others. Harrell said it’s important for people always to be competitive only at the levels that make them feel personally successful.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about you who spends your time thinking about personal success,” he said. “Take complete advantage of whatever keeps you actively living your life.”

And Harrell said competition in all facets of life is driven by such a notion.

“It’s in our mental DNA to think of personal competitive positivity at whatever we wake up and challenge ourselves to do every day,” he said.

Psychologists advise balancing competitiveness to maintain mental and emotional well-being through focusing on self-improvement, keeping perspective so that competition doesn’t become all-consuming, practicing integrity, managing stress, and employing a growth mindset. While competition continues to drive innovation and often helps people better themselves and achieve their goals, Vela said it’s also important to recognize the reasons behind the feelings of competitiveness.

“I think competition is prevalent in our world because it gives us a rush and a hit of dopamine when we are successful,” she said. “That’s a great feeling, but I think we have to be mindful that we aren’t using it to fill a void repeatedly. That said, when it comes to game nights with family or friends, I’m definitely competing to be the best to win. But even then, it’s all in good fun.”

Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel Tower, originally proposed the structure to Barcelona for the 1888 Universal Exposition, but Barcelona rejected the proposal for aesthetic reasons.

While roller skating rinks may bring back memories of elementary school parties for some individuals, it might not be necessary only to hold them in the nostalgic areas of your mind. The retro pastime has seen quite a resurgence in the 2020s era, keeping long-standing rinks in business and allowing new pop-up rinks to thrive.

This isn’t an activity reserved for solely kids and adolescents, though—adults of all ages are also finding themselves rolling in circles with glee to old and new popular tunes. Dallas resident Gigi McGuire said she grew up a “rink rat” and still loves going skating with friends.

“For me, it’s pure nostalgia,” she said. “If they have great music, that always puts a smile on my face—and you are being active while having fun.”

The continued rise of roller rinks has been helped in part by celebrities and TikTok influencers lacing up some skates and posting about their outings, allowing for both new and veteran fans of the social activity to come together for pure, lighthearted entertainment—and sometimes even a pause in the free-skate period for some head-to-head races between patrons. Dallas-area resident Rob Buwalda said he roller skates once a month with his sons at a popular family-owned rink in the metroplex that has been around for more than 52 years.

“I really enjoy going to roller skating rinks with my family and friends,” he said. “There’s something very fun about the mix of party music, movement, and a bit of friendly competition. It’s a great way to hang out, laugh together, and even pick up some new tricks. The vibe is always so positive, and it’s a nice break from the usual routine.”

Buwalda said he thinks another reason roller rinks are making a comeback and initiating more concerted efforts to improve their facilities is because people are looking for amusing and nostalgic activities that help them unplug from the stressors of daily life and be active with others.

“Roller skating is affordable and a fun way to get moving while enjoying great music and a lively atmosphere,” he said. “Rinks were being shut down, but lately Thunderbird and Interskate have spent money on renovating.”

Many rinks also offer lessons for those who have never skated or have perhaps become a little rusty after not skating since childhood. These facilities also offer the option to host parties for individuals of all ages, though pricing and specifics vary per venue. McGuire said she thinks one possibility for the returned popularity of this pastime is the concept of everything that was old becoming new again.

“Vintage anything is in, but skating is also just a pure form of family and friends fun,” she said. “I think people are always looking for that type of activity.”

And while McGuire said she believes that skating is a nice option for people in most stages of life, it is certainly important to take safety precautions.

“As we age, we need to be more careful about suffering a fall in any activity,” she said. “Broken tailbones, wrists, and collarbones are, unfortunately, not that uncommon with a bad skating fall, so just be careful. Wrist guards are cool!”

Like McGuire, Buwalda said he also thinks spending time together with friends and family members at roller skating rinks is an activity almost everyone can enjoy—and he believes that some wipeouts can add a little extra obstacle to the mix.

“Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been skating for years, it’s a great way to stay active and have fun,” he said. “Kids can take it slowly and learn at their own paces, while adults can either show off their skills or just enjoy the experience. It’s an activity that brings all ages together. Swerving around fallen kids is half the fun.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Before a lovely weekend walk, some of the NatNews staff and dear readers wanted to remind you of the importance of aesthetics

Monday, March 3: Dallasites101 Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (24–34) at Birdie’s Eastside
Tuesday, March 4: Free Rooftop Movie — Girls Trip at Sundown at Granada; Bryce Vine at the Echo Lounge & Music Hall
Wednesday, March 5: Candlelight — Tribute to Adele at the Filter Building
Thursday, March 6: Stars vs. Flames at the American Airlines Center; Foster the People at House of Blues Dallas; 90s Rock Tribute — Ninety 2 Nothin’ at Legacy Hall
Friday, March 7: National Cereal Day; Alexandra Kay at House of Blues Dallas
Saturday, March 8: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; International Women’s Day Celebration at Community Beer Co.; Dallas Crawfish Kickoff Festival at Pacific Plaza; Topanga (90s cover band) at The Rustic; Candlelight — A Tribute to Coldplay on Strings at Edison’s
Sunday, March 9: Dallas Trinity FC vs. Brooklyn FC at Cotton Bowl Stadium; Mavs vs. Suns at the American Airlines Center