After watching and enjoying (online) chess for 2+ years, I finally started playing maybe a year ago. Studied some openings, watched some instructional videos, did a lot of chess puzzles. Little by little.
Now and again I would play and for the last six months I have averaged maybe 10-15 games a day.
Life on the 64 squares is so astonishing, so reminiscent of the real world out there, so connected to the ethereal ideas of #bitcoin (shout-out, jack mallers (npub1cn4…3vle)) and #spirituality. Your play echoes your state of mind, where your focus is, what's troubling you in life:
- If I'm worried or upset, my attention is worse and I make more mistakes.
- If I'm tired or hungry or antsy from not having moved the body enough or slept properly, I play worse and make more mistakes.
- If something is distracting me, like a person or a movie or the household chores, I miss things and make more mistakes.
A lot of lessons there about splitting attention and the importance of deep work.
The anger that's unleashed when I mess up (note: _not_ when I get outplayed, that's mostly just beautiful) or overlook obvious moves that I could have/should have seen is unlike anything else I've ever experienced. I don't really get mad, but fucking up my chess games makes me bang the table, uncontrollably stamp the floor and throw things across the room.
Again, I believe it echoes life in the guttural frustration you might feel when you stray from a path you know is good for you, when you know deep down that you CAN do better.
Chess doesn't bullshit you, and doesn't care about your rationalizations, excuses or fancy explanations. The information is right there, on the board, objectively displayed for everyone to see (and your opponent to take advantage of). It resembles truth in some cosmic sense, again not unlike Bitcoin.
What's so fascinating about this is that across various time periods (30 days, 90 days, 1 year), I win about 50% of my games and lose about 45% (5% drawn). Small, small improvements/alpha/efforts -- imperceptible in the short run -- when repeated day in and day out eventually show amazing results.
Keep at it. If you're straying from the path -- regroup, refocus, and do it again. The sun will rise and we will try again. Consistency beats anything else.
Gradually, then suddenly. In bitcoin, in life, in fitness and health -- and also, in chess.
psst, alex (npub1ky9…alex) Aaron van Wirdum (npub1art…m0w5) Svenska808 (npub1nz4…kkgx) paulinthejungle (npub1spd…q6j7) stephanlivera (npub1r8l…x5dk) -- thanks for being part of my journey.
Peace.
#chess #chesstr #nostr #plebchain #coffeechain #serenity #milestones #diligence #keepatit #achievements #chesschain #64squares
