a gamer’s advice, September 22nd

Frustrations boil over the misallocation of time to fervent gaming, but ultimately, it’s an exercise in extraversion, to lead a team in a first-person shooter. Yet, precisely because it is difficult, the fruit of the laborious people mastery is without equal.

Imagine a task-oriented force devoted to the completion of their objective. Now, picture their continued their success in several instances, in quick succession. Isn’t it difficult? Even the New England Patriots 2007 season carried a blemish about the face, after falling to the New York Giants, in very much one of the greatest upsets in this writer’s lifetime.

Is failure the ultimate end? Hardly. Of course, this doctrine lacks novelty; if at first one doesn’t succeed, blast them with your Blue Eyes again!, persistence is key. Does remaining at the keyboard all day running scrimmages of possible scenarios help? If the mind stays open to understand the win conditions. The same way a fine photograph on film requires exposure adjustment, compositional knowledge and technical skill, much the same can be said about Overwatch, and life.

Team play in every day life must mimic the game, if victory is the ultimate desire. Focus, like a fine point pen, draws a line for behaviors. Losing one’s attention to banter or jealous eyes leering at social media will earn immeasurable loss. As we approach the ultimate deadline, there is little make up for lost time.

Communication, direct and explicit, can be straight without minimizing the recipient. Yet tempers flare and frustrations mount, especially in the heat of the moment. To stay consistent and clear is an exercise in virtue, patience is a warrior’s greatest weapon. People, and skills, are like flowers. Yours could grow if but only you water them. Chiding one’s mistakes proves internecine, like skipping meals, it hinders the growth. Hard work is its own reward, so much so, the task itself is easy; to make strides daily is the difficulty.

Writing helps diffuse tension, elaborate thinking, and illustrate visions. While most chalk up an in-game loss to luck or fate, this gamer scribbles out his own script, calling shots in competitive matches, and on film. Those who play by their own rules, win.