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