Life lessons from Scrabble

Image: A pile of Scrabble tiles, with the A, U, Q, R and T tiles on top. Photo by Wokandapix on Pixabay.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve been playing a lot of Scrabble. And we’re talking old-school board game Scrabble, not online or via an app—and, since I live alone, it’s Player 1 Me vs. Player 2 Me. I don’t keep score—I do try to use all the tiles. Along the way, Scrabble has offered me some useful life lessons. Here’s what I found:

• Play by the rules. Although not always easy, in the end it makes for a better experience overall.
• Do the best you can with what you have. Focusing on or hoping to get something you don’t have may not happen—and this will distract you from what’s right in front of you.
• When an opportunity presents itself, take advantage of it. There is no perfect moment—and waiting for one could leave you with wasted assets.
• If you’re not sure, ask (or look it up/search it).
• Don’t spend time and energy regretting the choices you made, or how you could’ve, would’ve, should’ve done things differently. Those moments are in the past. Stay present and let these lessons in paying attention (see above).
• Sometimes, things go your way and sometimes they don’t. It’s part luck of the draw, part making the best of what you have, and part how much you’re paying attention (see above).

What life lessons have you learned through play?