My wonderful co-hosts Cassandra and Damon agreed to let me take over the blog post for a while. In this first inaugural post I wanted to keep it personal and reflect on my history with board games. It wasn’t until recently when I profoundly looked back on my life, that I understood the magnitude with which games had shaped me as an individual. Not only this, but how much I have loved board games my entire life, as a child and as an adult. Board games have been my true life-long love affair.

As I look back to college I would play Fluxx during long breaks between classes with my bestie, Emil. I realized while looking back playing wasn’t just something to “pass the time” but rather to fill up my metaphorical “empty cup.” It was a way to rejuvenate and refresh my soul to be able to focus during classes. It brought me back to my childhood when I would just have fun without thinking about it. This is a true gift that board games have given me that never ceases to amaze me. I think we’re all looking for this sort of thing in our lives–fleeting moments of happiness among a world of dreary, and this is the first reason I love them. 

Earlier, in high school, I remember my friend Nicole and I would sit for hours and play Risk, Othello, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and a card game called B.S. I enjoyed every second of these games. Even earlier still, in elementary school, I remember my most prized possession being the Backgammon/Chess/Checkers set my parents got me for Christmas one year. It’s amazing how a smell can drag you back to an old wood chess board and the face of your father positioned across from you while you plan your next move. These memories attract me to board games to this day because they bring back that nostalgic feeling of the past.

I often talk about a concept with my family and friends in which you are only given a set amount of people in your life with you whom can truly be yourself. What i’m referring to, is the people who see every side of you, the good, the bad, and the ugly and they still accept you for who you are. Only once somebody has seen all this (and you’ve seen all of them) can you truly accept each other and act the most “naturally” while interacting.  When I play games I get to know people on the inside much faster than in normal interactions.

This is probably because games stir up strong emotions and bring out the best and worst in people–but especially the bad traits. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve “flown off the handle” at thinking I didn’t get the right amount of change given to me. There have been several times I thought I was “cheated” because I didn’t understand the rules in full. The great thing about board games is, they bring out the forgiving and compassionate side of people too. They have to forgive you for your crappy behavior and vice versa. Anyone reading this who says they haven’t been a “poor sport,” about a game before is just lying to themselves — everyone has been a poor sport at least once in their life. In a way, you can say board games make us more tolerant people. In truth, I think they provide children with excellent coping skills for this reason (okay, everybody).

I think it’s true after so much social distancing due to the Coronavirus, it’s clear that board games (even online board games) are a creative way for people to interact and maintain a strong connection with friends. Board Games bring people together, give them a sense of community, open the lines of communication, give people a nostalgic feeling from childhood, and diminish stress. Games give us an escape from the problems we are having in the moment, and help us to focus on something that makes us truly happy. So I will keep playing games for the rest of my life. I suggest you join me. Take up some games and create community in your own home today.