.. comparing ourselves to others. It's hard to disagree with this wisdom, yet chess is mostly about comparison ourselves to others. That's how rating is formed.
Everyone wants to improve, right? But your opponents also improve. This is an endless battle in which everyone loses in the end. By losing I mean tons of wasted hours of "improvement" for nothing except frustration. The older you get the less abilities you possess, and eventually you get beaten by young. Or by your smartwatch.
The only way to enjoy the game is to love the game for itself, without playing others, without ratings.
Everyone wants to improve, right? But your opponents also improve. This is an endless battle in which everyone loses in the end. By losing I mean tons of wasted hours of "improvement" for nothing except frustration. The older you get the less abilities you possess, and eventually you get beaten by young. Or by your smartwatch.
The only way to enjoy the game is to love the game for itself, without playing others, without ratings.