Ahh...the game of life. Somehow when I played the board game version of Life, it was all much easier. There was that little pink car that came with the pegs for your husband and kids, and the bridge that led to financial security, trips, wise investments, and in the end, you got to retire in style as a millionaire..
Sounds cool, eh?
But what Parker Brothers forgot to include in this fantasy entertainment fiasco were the spaces that said "get divorced and scramble to restructure all of your finances" or "get laid off in the middle of a recession and fight to save your home from foreclosure"....you know, the REALITY spaces! I guess that's why Parker Brothers also created games like "Sorry" and "Trouble" just to make sure we didn't get caught up in a complete fairytale existence.
But the problem with games is that they didn't stay behind in our childhood. In fact, not only did they join us in adulthood, but they took on a different shape and morphed into something even more sinister than pretend dreamworld fantasies. They turned into...
THE DATING PLAYBOOK!!!
The whole process of getting to know someone is called "being in the game". After you have narrowed it down to just one person you want to be with, you have to know how to "play the game". And when you're in a relationship, in order to stay in it, you have to (yes, you guessed it) "be on TOP of your game". And just when you think you've had enough of the games, someone will come along and say with a smirk, "Hey, don't hate the playa...hate the GAME, baby!"
Okay...stop right there.
How in the heck can I hate the game when I'm constantly forced to PLAY it? How can I NOT play the game if I'm expected to live, date, and try to be a sociable adult? What's the whole point of growing up, getting an education, working a job, and doing other responsible adult things, if it all basically boils down to just "playing games?" When do the games stop and REAL life begins?
Or...is real life and dating just about a bunch of games anyway?
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Cousin, truth be told, real life and dating are about a bunch of games. Period. If we try to think of it in any other way, we set ourselves up for disappointment. From our earliest learning experiences, we are taught "The Rules". Babies cry...needs get met, thus learning, cry and adults meet needs. For women, The Rules consist of looking good (thus the cosmetic, fitness and hair industries) and a man will want you. The Rules for men are fake it until you impress her. If you like her, get her as your own before any other man. The Rules also state (like Chris Rock said) that we send our "representatives" on dates for the getting to know and early dating process. The list of rules goes on and on but it is technically a game that we have all been taught to play one way or the other. Because anytime you don't play by The Rules, you don't get to play.
ReplyDeleteIt is my sincere (and maybe naive) hope that we can get some honest and trustworthy players on the board to make the game worth playing.
BTW - I loved the board game analogy!!