Family Games

 

After quarantining, we met with our children, whom we had not seen for between 10 months and 1 year. This was due to covid, government restrictions/quarantines/bans and the journey with cancer. For sure the meeting physically was rich with emotion.  Such a lovely feeling giving them a hug and a kiss after the frequent skype, zoom and whatsapp video calls. The connection across the airwaves had been helpful. A god send indeed, or a technical one at least! 

However, nothing can replace the physical and energetic presence of the human being, especially with close loved ones.  What became magical for us, apart from the cooking, eating, chats and occasional “first dates” programme etc., was playing games! There is so much fun to be had with games, especially good old fashioned card games. 

 

Bring out a 52-card deck and the world of possibility opens up. There are so many different varieties of games, space for conversation, play, fun, competition, co-opetition, funny moments and of course the occasional “pro” showing their skills with shuffling.  Those of us who fold the card deck in two several times over, were in awe of the ‘crrrrrick’ sound emanating from the cards as each one merged and layered with the other and then slipped into place on the final move. So nice to see. 

 

For me, these family moments were magic and fun.  There was no “ha ha I won” moments, yet there were many “ah that’s a pity” or “oh wow, you were so close” and “well played”.  So uplifting and bonding.  Small things. Yes, I have reflected much on life and faced it full on this last year, as well as its corollary. And I have come to the deep knowing that the small moments and little things in life are the ones which have more value and stand out. The look here, the laugh there, the moment of silence or a shared tear. All these speak volumes to my body, mind and soul.  The big things can be fun and are there to be humbly appreciated, with gratitude.  And yet, they are not so important when zooming out to look from the infinite.  I think people who live simply already know, or have learned this. Or just remember it from inside their dna. The craving we are fed from adverts breeds craving and is ever insatiable.  As though we are told the hole inside us is just bigger and bigger. 

 

Yet that is the lie. 

 

I don’t believe there is a hole. There is just a placeholder which can be used. Or not. A moment of a card game, a hug, a magical vista, all these take their place in the placeholder with no demand for space nor gap.  So curious. And yet not new. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

 

I wonder how many of us go back to the simplest of games. The ancient ones? For sure, there is a resurgence in chess, re-ignited by the marvelous acting and script of Netflix’ “Queens gambit”. But that is a game for two, really. What is played as a bigger group after dinner that can allow conversation? What creates bonding, re-kindling and the magical moments? Do you miss these? Or relish them? Or think this is all “baloney”?  I wonder, do we have such similarities or not? And If so, how does our view on this reflect each of us and our innate humanity? What do you consider as simple magical moments? And what are you doing to make more or try to make at least some?