Life Is Not A Game

Growing up, one of my favorite family connections was playing games. Not digital or electronic games, but card games, board games, and physical games like charades. I loved the satisfaction of shoving off someone’s pawn when I drew a “Sorry” card. The anticipation in a wavering hand as it tried to remove the patient’s rib during the “Operation”. Filling with excitement knowing that I had the upper hand as I placed my checker with its three companions calling out “Connect 4!”

Every moment I loved! Well, okay, not every moment. I didn’t like it when I was at the top of the ladder only to step onto a slide my next move placing me near the board’s entrance. I became frustrated by those little dots on the Candy Land board when you had to stay until you drew the matching color. I gave up on trying to “monopolize” the world because honestly, my dad was way too good of a strategist and I don’t think I ever did beat him.

I know I am forgetting many reactions of stunned family members as I finally conquered their Battleship, placed down the last card in my hand, or moved the King into his final destiny, but one life lesson I will always remember is this; You cannot quit. It became the subtle family rule. When the game became challenging or frustrating, we had to push through our emotions and move on no matter what the outcome would be. There was no “reset button” to start the game over again.

Today’s generation, known by several tags: The Millennials, Generation Y, and The Fatherless Generation, has also earned the new label, “The Reset Generation”

The idea has been instilled that whenever you are losing, just hit the “reset” button and everything is all-good because you are no longer losing. Take a look around. How long does a Millennial stay at their current job? On average, the current employee remains for about 4.4 years (Forbes.com), however that number is about to decrease as more Millennials enter into the long-term workforce. “Ninety-one percent of Millennials (born between 1977-1997) expect to stay in a job for less than three years, according to the Future Workplace “Multiple Generations @ Work” survey of 1,189 employees and 150 managers. That means they would have 15 – 20 jobs over the course of their working lives!” (Forbes.com)

What does this say about our upcoming society? I believe it represents corruption, pushes towards catastrophe, and implies confusion all because of a lack of commitment, which I will expand upon in my upcoming article.  For now, I conclude with this food for thought:

“A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” (Proverbs 13:4)