| Moment #2 - Conflict - "Keep life | | | | satisfying our human need for conflict. |
| interesting: find conflict." | | | | Most people have very little conflict in |
| Conflict is necessary for us as human | | | | their lives, and their easiest solution |
| beings. We need it as much as we need | | | | to finding conflict is to watch sports. |
| air and water. Sometimes we win. | | | | They get home from work, flip on the |
| Sometimes we lose. Sometimes there is no | | | | television, and wait for "the big game" |
| defined resolution, and conflict is its | | | | to start. |
| own experience. | | | | Other examples of conflict: |
| Conflict can make us break down and cry. | | | | You confront someone about a lie. |
| It can also make us happy, especially | | | | Your car won't start. |
| when we win a situation and are | | | | Your daily struggle to wake up and get |
| victorious. Conflict makes us think. It | | | | to work on time. |
| keeps us alert. It makes us react, and | | | | Aside from moral beliefs and laws, |
| it forces us to learn. It can make our | | | | conflict is conflict. From that |
| blood boil. Indeed, without | | | | perspective, robbing a bank is a pretty |
| conflict-without the possibility of | | | | strong form of conflict that will |
| failure or the potential for | | | | enhance your human experience to a |
| triumph-life would be utterly boring. | | | | degree that most people might never |
| Some examples of conflict: | | | | feel. However, the repercussions of |
| Conflict in a relationship: Conflict is | | | | being a bank robber might not be so much |
| inevitable when you are dating or when | | | | fun. Sky diving is another great form of |
| you are married. It can be a minor | | | | conflict (potential terminal conflict |
| conflict. (You and your girlfriend argue | | | | with the ground). Will you survive the |
| over what you're going to watch on TV.) | | | | fall, or will you squash yourself? |
| Or, it can be a major form of conflict. | | | | There are four categories of conflict: |
| (Your husband is an alcoholic and has | | | | Direct, physical conflict: a fistfight |
| become physically abusive towards your | | | | or boxing match, a football game, rugby, |
| children.) | | | | a karate match, fencing, bullfighting, |
| Conflict in movies and books: Any | | | | wrestling |
| fictional book or blockbuster movie is | | | | Indirect, physical conflict: a baseball |
| packed with conflict. Sometimes movies | | | | game, soccer, horseracing, a marathon |
| are so full of conflict that they make | | | | Indirect, mental conflict: a game of |
| us physically tired and mentally drained | | | | chess or checkers, an argument, the game |
| by the time they are over. Have you ever | | | | show "Jeopardy", a video game |
| felt that way about a movie? If you | | | | Conflict with yourself: disciplining |
| have, chances are strong that you just | | | | yourself not to buy that donut every |
| watched a great movie. | | | | morning on the way to work, telling |
| Conflict at work: We might get into an | | | | yourself not to call your ex-boyfriend, |
| argument with a colleague over the | | | | telling yourself not to drink, |
| whereabouts of our favorite pen. We have | | | | disciplining yourself to study for that |
| conflict when we fail to meet our | | | | upcoming math test, biting your tongue |
| customers' needs, and they confront us. | | | | when someone you love says something |
| Conflict in sports: Competing against | | | | hurtful |
| someone (or watching someone compete) is | | | | I think most people define retirement as |
| one of the stronger forms of conflict. | | | | conflict free: no more boss, no more |
| The more civilized the society, the | | | | driving to work, no more deadlines, no |
| higher the demand for sports. | | | | more alarm clock. I have a different |
| Professional athletes get paid vast sums | | | | perspective. By eliminating work and the |
| of money because the average American | | | | opportunity for the conflict work brings |
| has become sedated. Our culture | | | | with it, I think we are potentially |
| conditions us for a safe and monotonous | | | | cultivating a sedated lifestyle. If |
| lifestyle that allows for a cohesive | | | | anything, retirement should mean that |
| existence within our society. We go to | | | | it's time to experience the type of |
| work, come home, and watch television. | | | | conflict that is most appealing and most |
| We pay our taxes. We live our lives in a | | | | challenging to ourselves. It's the time |
| manner to maintain a peaceful nation. | | | | of our life where we get to choose the |
| Although it works, I believe we have put | | | | situations that will rattle us the most. |
| our human spirit to sleep to such an | | | | Conflict is a necessary part of the |
| extent that we need to stare at a | | | | human experience. Eliminate it and life |
| television and get our "conflict fix" by | | | | becomes about as exciting as a piece of |
| watching other people compete. I don't | | | | toast. If you want to keep your life |
| see this changing anytime soon because | | | | interesting, here is the answer: find |
| where else are we going to get physical | | | | conflict. Hopefully you can find |
| conflict without the risk of breaking | | | | conflict that is not life threatening |
| some law, going to jail, or getting | | | | yet still has an element of loss/triumph |
| hurt? Whether you sit in a recliner and | | | | attached to it. Then again, maybe |
| watch sporting events on television or | | | | life-threatening conflict is the best |
| you're actually a participant in a | | | | way to go. |
| sporting event, sports go a long way in | | | | |