How much interaction, how much friendship, how much simplicity with meaning there is in a board game

A few days ago I learned something that changed my life a little bit, I noticed how there are still simple things that can be fun and at the same time allow us to have healthy relationships in which we are not interrupted by networks, alcohol or any of those things that honestly from my point of view, ruin the beauty of personal relationships.

To understand my change, I tell you that when I was a kid I didn't like board games, I preferred to have more physical activity running around climbing on high places and that kind of stuff, and that was fine, kids need those kinds of activities. But as I got older it was very clear to me that board games were not my thing even without trying it again. So when there were plans like this we turned them down right away because according to me they weren't fun.

But as always, as you get older you just realize how wrong you were for so long and notice how many opportunities to enjoy a good time you missed by thinking with your memories and not with the person you are now. So after several years, I joined board games and although I have no experience with them and I live losing, I gained something and that is that I learned several things I did not know.

I remember seeing for a long time my parents inviting friends to the house to play dominoes with them, they had a good time, laughed, talked and everything in a healthy way. I don't know exactly how to explain to them what this game consists of but I will try. It is a game for 4 players, in which each player takes 7 pieces with double sequence of numbers, each one in one half of the piece and your goal is to run out of pieces before the others.

But the game is complex, you must know how to play it well, count pieces to know which ones your opponent may have and so on, my dad is an expert, but every time they went to play I withdrew and never learned, so in jokes I usually say that I am the shame of the family, since of all my siblings I am the only one who does not know how to play it well. But recently, my parents invited several friends over and they also invited my husband and me. It was a fun afternoon and evening, where no one was on their phone, but just chatting with each other.

As we were more than 4 people, we placed two tables and whoever lost exchanged places with the losing team of the other table, which allowed us to play with everyone and also share time with everyone who was there, even my 3 year old nephew already learned to play and had his place at one of the tables, although only a couple of games.

While we were playing, one or the other told some anecdote of his life or made jokes about how bad they had played, I quickly noticed that it was an activity that achieved something that almost nothing achieves today, that one can relate without devices in between, that one can spend time with friends in a healthy way, without excesses, without harmful things for your body, just you enjoying with your friends of social interactions in a simple way.

A minimalist activity in all its splendor, because although it is simple it helps us to get really valuable things out of it, like spending time with friends to strengthen our relationships and also an activity that helps you to exercise your mind a lot, while having fun. In the end we don't need much to have a good time, just a game of dominoes and 4 friends who want to have fun with you.

My opinion about board games changed, because whenever something simple, without alterations or anything that can harm us manages to take us out of our bubble of technology and excesses, that is something worthwhile. So board games will now become one of the activities that will be part of my life, when I want to spend quality time with friends while having fun.