Growing up, my mother always told us something I can never forget. She would say, “There is nothing bad in competing with someone, but when bitterness or jealousy comes in, that is the height of it. Compete to be better, not to hate.” She said competition should push us forward, not make us angry or bitter. She warned us not to compete over bags, shoes, or phones. To her, that kind of competition was useless. “Compete with people who are doing good things. Learn from them and make your own life better.
I was young then and I did not understand it well but as I grew up, I began to see her point. The real competition is not about who looks richer or more beautiful. It is about who grows better. My mother’s words made me realize that competing in the right way makes you stronger.
But it was not only my mother that shaped my view of competition. My father also played a big role. Whenever it was time for a new school term, my father would call us all to the sitting room. He would sit on his chair and smile at us. Then he would say, “Anyone who becomes the best in their class this term will receive a huge gift from me at the end of the term.” My siblings and I attended boarding school, and this promise from my father always made us eager to do well. That was when the real competition began.
I still remember my class. There was this very intelligent girl, I knew in my heart that she was smarter than I was but I also remembered my father’s promise. I wanted that gift badly. So what did I do? I started to read more. I studied harder. I asked my seniors for help. I wanted to beat that girl in class and be the best. This was a silent competition. She did not even know I was competing with her. But that was a good thing. I was not bitter. I was not jealous. I only wanted to improve myself.
That competition made me better. I always look forward to my father's promise and make sure I try my best to lead the class. My father’s promise made me see the good side of competition. I did not hate the girl who was smarter than me. I admired her. She made me sit up. She made me want to be more serious.
This healthy competition stayed with me when I entered the higher institution. I joined a group of students who loved to read together. We called it our reading group. Whenever exams were close, we would challenge each other. “Who will top this course? Who will score the highest?” we would ask. This challenge made me sit up again. I would go back to my room and read more. I did not want to be the last in the group. I wanted to surprise them by knowing the answers in class or during discussions.
I noticed something about this kind of competition. It made me prepare well. It forced me to understand the courses better. I did not want to disgrace myself during our study group meetings. So I read my notes. I did my assignments on time. I asked questions when I did not understand something. All because of healthy competition.
Even when I joined Hive I met 
I also saw the bad side of competition around me. Some people hated others because they were doing well. They gossiped about them. They prayed for them to fail. That is what my mother called the bitter side of competition. I did not want that.
Now I can see that my parents were right. Competition is not bad. It can be a blessing if your heart is pure. Compete to become better, not to destroy others. Compete to improve yourself, not to envy someone else. My father’s promise and my mother’s words remain in my heart till today.
If you must compete, compete in doing good things. Compete with kindness, patience, in hard work. Compete to learn more, to grow more, to be the best version of yourself. That is the kind of competition that will make your life rich and full. That is the true meaning of healthy competition.
This is my response to today's episode of hive-learners community prompt of #hl-w171e1which the topic is tagged HEALTHY COMPETITION