Learning from Chess (or Band or Sports or Theater)

I believe in being well rounded. I am grateful that my parents allowed/ encouraged me to be involved in a variety of activities. I remember writing a self-reflection letter as a senior in high school about the way that being in theater shaped me – how, ironically, by pretending to be someone else I learned a lot about myself. There have also been countless times I have talked to people about how playing in band allowed me to learn how to do my part – and the need to rely on and help others to do their part.

 

Yesterday I read an article about a group of students who learn to play chess (starting in Kindergarten!) who were visited by one of the world's best chess players, Garry Kasparov.

Their teacher talked about the benefits of playing chess that go beyond the game:

"Chess requires you to do research to learn to play in certain styles. You may make an error that you have to go back and fix. Those things translate because there is not a thing in this world worth having that you don't have to prepare for."
- Fritz Gaspard

 

It made me think that while there may be specific benefits that come from playing chess, and different ones from playing in band, and even other ones from playing on a sports team, but that no matter which one a child does, there are real benefits to doing something you enjoy and are invested in. Something that pushes you and forces you to think differently.

There was something that Garry Kasparov said in the article that really struck me:

"If you don't feel nervous you don't care. Everyone has fear, it's about how you handle it."

 

That makes me feel better about feeling nervous! And reminds me of a quote from a movie preview I saw recently:

"Danger is real. Fear is an option."

 

While I'm not sure that fear is an option, pairing that thought with Kasparov's comment helps me realize that we can control how we react to situations - how we handle our fears and nervousness. Do we build the skills we need to work through and find success? Or do we let our fear/ nervousness cripple and control us?

More fuel for my quest for increased self control! (and a good excuse to pursue extra-curriculars :)