The game of Solitaire is a lot like life.
- - You go it alone.
- You don’t know what’s coming next.
- There are usually 2 or 3 moves you make that screw you up.
- You have to play what’s in front of you.
- It’s all about the organization.
I’m sure there are other parts of the game that can be extrapolated out to explain life but these just popped into my head.
You go it alone – I know that when playing Solitaire with real cards or on the computer someone can look over your shoulder and kibitz while you shuffle, but the plays you make are your own. There are no hints given – all the calls are yours to make.
You don’t know what’s coming next – When played on the computer, Solitaire can be set to deal one card at a time or three cards at a time. Some people can only deal with one card at a time… that’s how I grew up playing the game. I have had jobs where 3 cards come flying at me all at once – drinking from the proverbial fire hose. It’s not so much to take if you break it into smaller parts. It’s the wit, it’s my wisdom.
There are usually 2 or 3 moves you make that screw you up – I have noticed, when playing the game, that I place cards on piles and then immediately see my mistake. I can ‘undo’ the situation easily on the computer but not so much in life. I have made 2 or 3 moves in life that I’d like to take back but it probably wouldn’t lead me to where I am now – or even somewhere I’d want to be. It’s possible I could have ended somewhere worse… or better. That’s the chance we take. We can only make decisions based on past experience and what it laid out in front of us.
Which leads nicely into…
You have to play what’s in front of you – You can’t sit there and grouse about your situation. If you don’t like it, make changes. Your life can always change. Again, it may not be the change you ‘want’ but it could be the change you ‘need’. You stare at those cards and place the 8 of Diamonds on the 9 of Spades. The next card you pick is the 8 of Hearts. You know what? There’s nothing you can do about it. Keep looking until something else matches. You’ve already made your play.
It’s all about the organization – I’m a big proponent of organization. I try to use it whenever I can. I may not always be the best at it but I like it. I like things that work cleanly together. If something doesn’t fit, you find something that does. Sometimes you have to work with what you’re given (sound familiar?) and it can’t be replaced (a co-worker, for example). There is no organizing a human life. You cannot sort what you do not control. But play the cards you’re dealt and place them in their special piles. Organizing your life goes a long way towards managing your life. If you can manage YOUR life, then you can manage the expectations of others who rely on you.
Solitaire is not just a game; it’s a metaphor for life.