Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

I rediscovered my love for chess. We had chess tournaments in elementary school. I won in my fourth grade and claimed school champion. Then I grew up, got older, and used my spare time for other things. It was only recently that a few friends got me into it. A family member introduced me to chess.com, and I’ve played many games during my spare time. I like how chess is a moving puzzle. Every game is very different! I am able to play against people my skill level. That makes it enjoyable and fun. 

One of my good friends encouraged me to play more by saying, “Chess is a game where a gnat can drink and an elephant can bathe.” I had to ask what that meant. Well, chess is a game where any player can play—from the beginner, like a small gnat, to the expert, like a large elephant. That is the beauty of chess. It’s universal. Games are now online and we can play with people anywhere in the world.

It was hard to get back into the game. I used to be really good at chess as a kid. Many years passed by and the thought of investing time and energy to relearn the game seemed daunting. However, like my wise friend mentioned, chess is a game where a gnat can drink. We don’t have to be an expert to love the game of chess. This encouraged me to simply have fun with it.

It’s harmful to have an all-in or all-out mentality. By this I mean the danger of perfectionism, that says we can only enjoy something if we are great at it. Hobbies and playful games are needed, where we can enjoy the pleasure of puzzle making and competition without the pressure we put on ourselves (or others). This is a very good thing in life: to play and to have fun. And chess is the type of game where anyone can enjoy themselves! On chess.com, my current blitz rating is 600 — I’m still a beginner at five minute games. This means I play people between level 550 and 650 and the games are usually pretty close. I have a lot of fun even if I lose.

What are some hobbies and activities we’ve neglected? Take up something fun—whether new or old—and enjoy the pleasure of being a gnat, if that’s all it takes. It helps time fly by.