Back In The Game

Is there a childhood hobby, or interest, in your life that used to get you all hyped up and excited … but that you no longer pursue because … you became an adult or a parent? If yes, do you recall that adrenaline rush, that heart race each time you picked up your tennis racquet and swung it like Federline? Or maybe you played that piano like Mozart, your heart and soul lost completely in a beautiful melody …and you don’t even notice the time go by?

For me it’s chess. It’s been almost 20 years since I have stopped studying and playing it seriously (see my blog Bio if interested for details). I’ve tried to come back here and there to play it since then, but to my horror, I would play progressively worse and worse as the time went by. My once a 2000+ tournament rating was dwindling to something very embarrassing … and then I became a mom and forgot what chess even means … until my older daughter finally reached the age where I could teach and play with her … and slowly it started to all come back…

And so … this week … I got over my ego and let go of the fact that now I suck at chess! Yes. I rocked it 20 years ago but now I suck – and so what? I got over it, accepted it and started to have fun with it! I signed up for Chess.com!

And all of a sudden, I got that adrenaline rush I haven’t felt for so long. My heart pumping fast, my mind racing and I can’t get enough! I feel young again, I feel alive, I feel new, vibrant energy within me and I feel like running and screaming at the top of my lungs out of joy … just like I did 20 years ago…

… All because I carved out some time out of my busy day and let go of any expectations I had of myself. Try it for yourself and see if it changes your life! 😉

PS if you are playing at Chess.com – you can find me by my nickname – MomOnaBreak.