The Queen's Gambit:: The Beauty of Human Connection

Source: Wikimedia Commons

I just finished watching The Queen's Gambit on Netflix. I wasn't a chess fan before I started watching and the show didn't change my mind. But I enjoyed every minute, and two scenes stuck out in the final episode because of their humaness (is that a word)?

As Beth, the main character, battles the Russian player Borgov, she believes she is on her own, having alienated many of the people she met in the chess world with her arrogance and feelings of inadequacy. Beth only saw her interactions with them as chess lessons or people to best at the game. She didn't realize she was forming friendships and connections.  When a group of chess players she has known forever calls her in Russia to help her plan strategy, she realizes they are her friends and also the family she never had. She realizes they like her and genuinely care about her. Is there a feeling better than the moment when you realize you belong somewhere?

Then, at the end when Beth is on her way to the airport with her State Dept escort, he is going over her itinerary and talking points for the Russians delegation of chess players she must meet with upon her return to America. Tired of hearing how careful and wary she must be around Russians, Beth asks the driver to pull over. She steps out of the car and begins walking. She walks to a park filled with older. chess players who immediately recognize her as the new world chess champ. They greet her, shake her hand and ask her to play. In her heart Beth knew the gentleman were just like her ... humans, people, who enjoy a good game of chess. Is there a more beautiful or authentic connection?

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing ... Keep It Real.

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Making It Count: Connecting & Experiencing



photo credit: m-c via photopin cc

In January, I wrote a little post about my theme for the year: Make It Count. You can read it here. I vowed to connect, pay attention, find my direction, and create extraordinary experiences from ordinary ones.

Most recently, my focus has been on connecting and experiencing. Mainly because out of the four areas I threw down, those are the easiest to wrangle.

Connecting. Over the past few months, I have made a concentrated effort to actually use my phone to ... get this ... talk to people. Real actual phone calls. I'm finding it's rather efficient for taking care of my bizness. I've also sent more snail mail birthday cards. My sis-in-law made this feat easy peasy for me when she presented me with a box of her handmade all-occasion cards for Christmas. They are totally gorge (as in gorgeous). In fact, they are so beautiful that I sort of hate letting them go.

What else? I made a lunch date with my sister for the first time in, well, ever. Not FORever. But, EVER. (Hanging my head in shame.) We had a great time, and I think we'll do it again. After school, instead of running around tackling tasks while the peeps veg out on PBS' Wild Kratts (very cool show, BTW), I started watching with them. Sometimes I'll work on my jigsaw puzzle (love those things!) of Greece (sigh), but we'll talk about the show, laugh and just be together.

I'm trying to check my calendar every few days for birthdays and events so I don't miss as much as I used to. Probably the most fun connection I've made is beta-reading novels for a couple of  my aspiring author friends. I feel so honored that they would share their writing with little ol' me! I just finished one manuscript, and it was delicious! I wish my friend all the best as she starts submitting!

Experiences. Last month, I knocked an item off of my Bucket List! My friend, Dayla, and I saw the Zac Brown Band in concert. Best concert I've been to, hands down! THE BEST! The opening act, Blackberry Smoke, rocked the arena as well. Gotta get some of their tunes.

My biggest adventure to date starts next Monday. The peeps have a week-long spring break, so the three of us are trekking to Florida. We gots our plane tickets, we gots our rental car,, we gots our snackies, and we gots our navigation tools. We are good to go. My aunt graciously offered to let us stay with her for a few nights. I am excited and nervous. I really want this to be a great trip!

What about you? Did you set a theme for 2013? If so, what is it and how are you doing with living in it?

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing ... Keep It Real.