What is it like to be a rival?

In my younger days, I loved a good rivalry. I personally have always worked better under pressure and with competition. Not saying those things are good, that is just how I work. As long as things stay in perspective, respect is shown, I don’t see that rivalries are a bad thing.

My only rival is a class mate. She and I are very competetive. It’s kind of a friendly and healthy rivalry where we both respect each other and stay in our limits…
We talk, have fun and games at lunch time, but we both have that mutual feeling of wanting to beat the other at work.

Unless it is on the croquet field, I don’t have a competitive bone in my body. When it comes to a promotion, I trust the judgement of those making the decision. (It helps when they explain their reasons for the choice.) As for love, the feelings of a partner cannot be changed, and there seems to be no reason to take it out on the other person or feel competitive

I’ve learned some valuable lessons through rejection when another person is selected. Be it a job or a love, the right one will come along with proper perspective and time.

@Pied_Pfeffer “I’ve learned some valuable lessons through rejection when another person is selected. Be it a job or a love, the right one will come along with proper perspective and time.”

Not the kind of thing I usually say, but thank you for these wise and calming words.

Exciting at times. I’ve been a rival in sports when I ran competitively, I’ve been a rival for standing (against my best friend) with a teacher, I’ve been a rival for love as both the loser and winner and I’ve been a rival for position/standing with co workers. I like to compete as it pushes me to keep sharp, learn new things (about myself too) and toot my horn via being observed.

I have had one very memorable rival on the golf course.I had a blast playing against him!
I didn’t win often,but when I did,he couldn’t take it!
I beat him by a stroke one time and he wanted to play another 18 (par 3) right away.
So I did.
I won the jacket off his back! LOL!
He was great!The hotter the temper,the sweeter the victory!

I like a bit of healthy rivalry. It keeps me on my toes and reminds me to be the best I can be. It turned sour for me on one occasion. I was on top of my game and forging ahead for first place in my major when another student upped his game and beat me to it. I couldn’t handle being second to him and turned into a scary dragon for a while.

@The_Idler Thank you for the comment. I’ve just found that swallowing pride takes more effort than getting over personal resentment of a rival.