Bernard Suits - Playing a game is the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles

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Welcome to The Daily Quote—a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, for December 20th. Did you know today is Games Day?

That’s right—a whole day to celebrate the fun, creativity, and sometimes competitive chaos of games. Whether it’s board games, video games, or even that game of charades that always devolves into an argument about what counts as “mime,” games are a powerful way to connect with others and even with yourself.

So, in honor of Games Day, I’ve chosen a quote from Bernard Suits, the philosopher behind The Grasshopper: Games, Life and Utopia: - who once said...

“Playing a game is the voluntary attempt to overcome unnecessary obstacles.”

Let’s break that down because, at first glance, it sounds like the exact thing your competitive sibling says when they beat you at Monopoly. But Suits is actually highlighting something profound here. Games are a microcosm of life—they’re all about the challenge.

Think about it: you willingly take on those “unnecessary obstacles” because they make life more engaging and meaningful. Whether it’s navigating a chessboard, solving a puzzle, or trying not to lose it when someone picks the blue shell in Mario Kart, games remind you that struggle isn’t always a bad thing. And this idea doesn’t just stop at games. How often in life do you take on “unnecessary obstacles” to grow, learn, or just have fun?

You didn’t have to bake a soufflé that one time, but you did—and it deflated faster than your confidence—but it was still a memorable experience. Life is richer when you embrace challenges, whether they’re inside the rules of a game or not.

So, today, whether you pick up a deck of cards, dust off your favorite board game, or finally tackle that side quest in your favorite RPG, remember: the obstacles are what make it fun. And who knows, maybe today’s game will teach you something about how to face the bigger challenges in life—with a bit of strategy, humor, and maybe just a touch of luck.

Thanks for spending some time with me today on The Daily Quote. I’ll be back tomorrow with more words to inspire and connect with you. Until then, may all your dice rolls be in your favor.

And I'll catch you tomorrow, same pod time, same pod station for another Daily Quote!