Board Game Value

Games like Monopoly, Risk, and Clue were a fun pastime for my immediate family when I was young but never a tool to make new friends. My mother was definitely an introvert and a bit agoraphobic, so she never brought humans from the outside world into our abode. It wasn't till I was much older that I realized the tremendous friend-making power of the board game!

My Grandma and Grandpa often told me stories of their best friends who lived just down the street from them in Cupertino, CA. They had invited them over for dinner and cards one night and formed a relationship that lasted thirty years. They would get together for whiskey, dinner, and cards multiple nights each week. I remember telling my Grandma I would have friends like that when I grew up.

Many years later, I have been blessed with friends like that.

Sharing a meal with a stranger may spark a friendship, but challenging a complete stranger to a battle royale in the world of Scythe? That's a surefire way to forge a bond for life. Just deciphering the rulebook with someone is an adventure you will fondly recount.

Setting aside our "Smart Phones" for a game of Catan is healthy and forms strong social bonds. Sure, it has a little to do with the food, drinks, and all that eye contact...

Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for teaching me the power of games. They will continue to be the cornerstone of lifelong friendships I cherish and persist until my last dice roll.

P.S. Board games, unlike most sports and physical activities, are something you can enjoy even when you and your friends are old, diaper-wearing residents of the same rest home. You know who you are, and I love you all!

Do you have a comment or some constructive criticism? Tell us about it in the comments below.