Ahead of the Game

There is no denying that we are all a little competitive and if anyone tells you differently, they were daydreaming when we learned the Charles Darwin Theory. Just ask them what vaccine they received/will receive or ask them to play a game… 

Competitiveness has healthy components such as: to keep people motivated, foster personal growth and increase skill. It is often offered in recreation therapy programming to maintain/increase cognitive functioning and strengthen social skills. Competitiveness can also hinder relationships, become stressful and have you questioning each other’s morals. 

It is often evident when comparing grades, job titles, salaries, children, sports, houses, social media following and how well you’re abiding by the pandemic restrictions.

However, a game in a cardboard box with “3+” displayed on the side can bring out the worst in us. Why do board games have the power to transform us from a respectable adult into a child having a temper tantrum? Thrown out the window are family dynamics, table manners and at times, game pieces. 

Let’s be honest, no one is truly sorry during a game of ‘Sorry’.

These games create a division between family members, couples, friends and children. Your mother who carried you for 9 months, quickly becomes the enemy.

Although, if these games did not become a war zone, they would be called “bored games”. 

My grandmother taught me to be on my ‘A’ game when playing board games, but it appears I am off my game when it comes to men… 

In PetStartle, I was startled by robotic pets. Today, a co-worker’s observation startled me.   

These days we rarely see anyone noteworthy walking through the hallways at work.  Family members are required to go straight to their loved one’s rooms, contractors are required to go straight to the problem and entertainers go straight to CERB.

It’s a do not past Go; do not collect $200.00 expectation. Heck, do not even play Monopoly – there’s too many pieces to sanitize and paper money doesn’t sanitize well. 

There are a few outside vendors who are required to come on site, but one gentleman made it clear he would rather be working from home. 

One afternoon I hopped onto the elevator to ask the Housekeeper a couple of questions. We were held up on the main floor by the oxygen man. 

In this moment there are three things I am certain of:

1. His official title must be “oxygen man”
2. I have no idea what his job consists of
3. He has no idea what a Recreation Therapist’s job consists of 

My co-worker and myself patiently waited as he pushed, pulled and banged tanks onto the elevator. The sound was horrendous and the space between her and I was not ideal either. Then with a less than friendly tone, he asked the Housekeeper to move over to create more space. If we moved any closer, we would require one of those tanks.  

The Housekeeper and myself continued our conversation as the elevator ascended while the oxygen man looked less than impressed. 

The doors opened on the third floor where he huffed and puffed and almost blew his pants down as he shoved the tanks onto the unit.

We cheerfully bid him farewell with no response in return as the doors closed behind him. 

When we reached the fourth floor, the Housekeeper followed me to my office. I pointed out, “someone wore their grouchy pants today, hey?”

She laughed and replied, “that’s what you noticed? I noticed him checking you out the entire ride. He likes you.”

I rolled my eyes and said, “oh, stop.”

She replied, “I only speak truth.”

She seems to be ahead of the game while I’m still trying to move from start.