Rather than a deep philosophical analysis of the idea that life is a game with a set of rules, challenges, and goals, the focus of this post is more towards the various forms of play and entertainment people might indulge in. Not only literal games, but also hobbies, sports, and other recreational activities that involve elements of strategy and competition.
Much of our interpersonal interactions are guided by unspoken rules and tactics. Whether in personal relationships, professional environments, or social situations, we are often guided by unspoken rules and tactics. We’ll find ourselves engaged in subtle power plays, negotiations, and compromises, trying to navigate our way through a variety of challenges and scenarios. Social structures and cultural practices often require people to play certain “games” to fit in, succeed, or gain approval.
On a lighter note, countless physical as well as virtual games are undertaken for enjoyment, entertainment, and/or educational purposes. They offer a break from normal routines and an opportunity for relaxation and many encourage socialization, teamwork, and communication among players. Some games are designed to teach specific skills while others are ideal for social gatherings.
Sports and physical games promote physical activity, improving health and fitness. There are educational games where learning is engaging and interactive, helping to reinforce knowledge and skills. Games can enhance cognitive skills such as memory, problem-solving, critical thinking, and spatial awareness. Therapeutically, games can be used in therapy to aid in physical rehabilitation, mental health treatment, and cognitive training.
Games come in many forms. There are board games that tap into tactical planning and critical thinking skills, and card games involving strategy and chance their players enjoy. Video and role-playing games (e.g. Dungeons & Dragons) are enticing due to the action, adventure, and simulation they employ. Many games, especially multiplayer ones, foster a sense of community. Online platforms, gaming clubs, and local meetups bring people together, creating friendships and social networks based on shared interests.
Engaging in games can be a great way to unwind and de-stress. The immersive nature of games allows players to escape from everyday worries and focus on enjoyable tasks. Winning a game, solving a difficult puzzle, or achieving a new high score can provide a sense of accomplishment and boost self-esteem. With a smartphone in hand, mobile games can reach a broad audience, from casual players to dedicated gamers.
By fostering a sense of community and promoting friendly competition, games can enhance our social interactions. Playing games from different cultures can be an educational experience, promoting understanding and appreciation of diversity. They can also strengthen family bonds by providing opportunities for quality time and teamwork.
Word games like crossword puzzles and logic games like Sudoku have been favorites of mine for decades. My first exposure to crosswords as a young girl was watching (and trying to “help”) my mother as she worked on the LA Times Sunday puzzle. Long before the advent of computer-based games, logic puzzles involving a set of premises and clues that must be systematically analyzed and pieced together to determine the correct answer could keep me entertained for hours.
Perhaps like many of you, I’ve moved onto online games and there are several that I play daily. Long-time readers may recall my Off The Rails post from May 2020 when playing Candy Crush got the better of me. I assure you that I haven’t fallen into that trap again.
The games I play are hosted on the digital platform of a certain well-known East Coast city publication. You may also be an aficionado of some or all of them. They suit my desire for a quick mental workout with little risk of falling back into addictive behavior because they are of limited duration.
While I’d been doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku online prior, I began playing Wordle in early 2022 after its acquisition by the New York Times. One of the fun aspects of that game and others is sharing the outcome with others. For a long while, I was alone in my endeavors.
Some readers may recall the news reports when a day’s Wordle word was oddly coincidental to a current public issue. Or about when a woman was saved from a home invasion because she hadn’t shared her daily Wordle results with her daughter as she normally would. As one does, I shared these tidbits of general information with our son as part of some occasional passing conversation hoping to spark his interest.
And then one day he shared his Wordle result with me. Oh, happy day! Of course, I shared mine with him, and a new routine was born. Although he lives with us, our son works full-time and often an evening shift. Several days could go by and we might not “see” him even though we are aware of his comings and goings. Getting his daily Wordle has become a way for me to know all was ok with him.
A few months later our daughter expressed her disappointment at being excluded so now it’s a group share. She brought Connections into the mix this past March, and then our son introduced us to two non-NYT games. With our daughter living in another state and our son often spending weekends at his girlfriend’s place, their daily shares serve as quick check-ins. There have been many times when my husband has asked if I’ve spoken to either child recently and my response is “No, but he/she Wordled so all is good”.
As for my look in today’s photos, its only connection to the topic of games is this what I wore to the second of this summer’s bridal showers I’ve attended. Both the dress and shoes were bought in Spring 2022. This latest shower was for our niece, and as with most of them, we played a game or two. Our daughter is the MOH and for the first game, she made a poster with 12 photos for a “guess the bride/groom’s age”. The second game she put together was a trivia game with 25 general knowledge questions related to the year the bride and groom first started dating. Everyone had a good time playing both.
What games do you play? Underscoring the idea that life itself can be seen as a series of strategic moves and decisions, how do you navigate your way through different challenges and scenarios? One more question, what is your starting word for Wordle?
Stay well and let’s keep in touch! Subscribe, follow, friend, pin … all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Photo credit: MMPerez
Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program where I earned a few cents for each click.
Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. Contributed by Mireille over at Chez Mireille, featured from last week’s link-up is her Linen Pants and Black Tank: A Travel Outfit post. Mireille doesn’t play games when it comes to combining style and comfort while away from home.
15 Comments
I love your pretty dress and hat, such a fabulous summer look. I’ve never played Wordle! In fact I don’t play any games or do puzzles on my phone. I used to play Mahjong on my husband’s phone years ago and I’ve been thinking about downloading it onto mine now I finally have more storage!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
The boys and I enjoy playing board games together and we like finding new ones that we know we will play for a while. I do need to go through ours and do some reorganizing! We also enjoy playing pickleball in the street (we got a net) and being outdoors (me, not so much in the summer!).
Thank you for the feature: that was a nice surprise!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
I don’t do any games on my phone. But we love playing board games as a family. Exploding Kittens is a favorite. Love your pretty sundress and hat!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thanks, Rena, for hosting and having me over weekly.
My entries this week are numbered #9+10
Hope you will join/share M-Sat at https://esmesalon.com/tag/seniorsalonpitstop/
I don’t do Wordle either! I was a big analog LA Times crossword solver but Severo cancelled the subscription and I just can’t bring myself to go digital. Such a luddite! Haha.
I’ve never played Wordle or games on the phone. We play games at Christmas including Trivial Pursuit and Operation. Also the one where you write a celebrity’s name on a Post It and attach it to someone’s forehead.
Spot on Rena I like your connection with personal behavious, some of which may even be unconscious!
We’re not a board games sort of family but we did all link up with an online quiz during Covid, that was fun as well as keeping us together!
It’s so lovely to have you back you know!!
Pamela
http://www.style-yourself-confident.com
Your floral dress is a very pretty choice for a bridal shower! Also, love your wide brim straw hat for summer. I am trying to limit my screen time so don’t play games online, but my husband and I like to do jigsaw puzzles. We nearly always have one set up in some stage of completion. Enjoy your week and thanks for the link up!
THat sharing wordle is a great way to ‘stay in touch’ without being invasive. I do some online games to turn off my thoughts – and I do like to play physical games when away (table tennis, golf etc) but my husband and I play babagrams….tho I just realise we haven’t for awhile…
I never really thought about how complex game playing is. Mike and I have been playing gin rummy a lot lately. I play a couple of games, but when they become an obsession, I try to break the habit quickly. The only “game” I’ve continued to play is a coloring one. I like the checking in your family has come up with! Thanks for the link up!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
The only game I play is cribbage. Game playing is very complex. You will be surprised how many kids shut down when we are doing something as simple as Kahoot.
Love the colors in this dress that will take you nicely into Fall. We played board games often growing up- Trivial Pursuit, Clue, Scrabble. I still enjoy playing Scrabble and some card games with my mom and hubby. My dad loved crosswords. Great ideas for the bridal shower.
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
Beautiful dress and a really fun read, Rena! I have always loved crossword puzzles but prefer the good ole paper crossword book over online crosswords. My kids love doing crossword puzzles with me, too, which really makes my heart overflow! The only online games that I really enjoy are the color by number ones! Haha.
Shelbee
Your dress is lovely. Nice hat.
Rena, love that outfit! AND this is such a clever way to connect with your family. Those NYT games are such fun. Wordle had been going for quite some time when my niece introduced me to it. Then I recently started doing Connections most days as well, and now Strands. I post my results on Twitter (I refuse to call it X!).