All the World's a Game

I'm not gonna lie…

I still believe I can beat anybody in a round of Mario Kart on Nintendo 64.

Most of us millennials grew up playing video games all day.

I always thought there was some sort of shame in that.

And yet, here we are now with full-fledged leagues dedicated to Call of Duty.

So what did I miss?

The older I've gotten, the more I realize that life is essentially one big game.

For instance:

• You can die.

• You can level up your skills.

• You can choose to be a main character or a role player.

It's simulation theory. Except it’s not really a theory…

And if you don't play the game, you'll never win.

Speaking of video games…

At the time of writing this, the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 has been announced, but not yet released...

For many gamers, kids and adults alike, this is like the ultimate Christmas morning.

So much so, there has been an unlikely swell of gamers who have openly expressed their fear of DYING before they get to play it. Yikes.

But as I simply observed this conversation, I couldn’t help but feel like this was an actual opportunity for lifestyle improvement within a community that could use the awareness.

Many gamers, through no fault of their own, have grown up some combination of unhealthy, broke, and alone...

Obviously, there are many exceptions to this rule, but let’s assume the worst.

Some gamers don’t necessarily have the same things to work towards and live for, in the real world at least. All of a sudden, there was this larger reason for survival.

So they took action, started support groups, and are pushing themselves to be in tip-top shape for the biggest day of their lives… until GTA 7 gets announced.

And on top of it all, they are using their consumption to their advantage…

Back to the Matrix.

Assume life is like one of your favorite open world video games, like Call of Duty, Final Fantasy, or World of Warcraft…

You don't get to pick your character, per se.

You look the way you look, you were born where you were born.

But you can acquire skills. And you can find different paths and little doorways.

You can have side missions on the way to your ultimate goal.

You can meet interesting people who tell you little tidbits and factoids.

You can pause the game at any moment and return when you're feeling up to it.

You can struggle, start over, or even beat the game entirely.

Usually that requires beating the final boss: yourself.

That's called freedom (and with it, happiness).

Warning: We are now exiting the matrix. This is something you can't unsee.

Once you realize there is nothing to fear, because similar to a video game, you know you can and will die… you start to open your eyes and begin to live.

In "A New Earth,” Eckhart Tolle describes this like a flower blooming for the first time.

It doesn't necessarily have evolutionary advantages, but it's more beautiful than anything you can possibly imagine with your eyes wide shut.

Or you can think of it like a caterpillar coming out of a cocoon and becoming a butterfly.

Hopefully, with enough time, water, and sunlight, we will all be flowers or butterflies spreading our wings. Or at the very least, Marios, Luigis, and Princess Peaches.

Just don't be a Bowser.

-EKS