“You
may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we
call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.”
— Mary
Pickford
Games
offer “safe-to-fail” environments where winning and losing have
few serious, real-world ramifications other than enjoyment, learning,
and social fulfillment (among many others). Meaningful play can help
us explore outcomes and provide material for further discussion,
reflection, and growth. I
recently
had an
awkward experience that reminded me how safe-to-fail environments
remain important to learning and encouragement...and how they’re
extremely rare in our capitalist society that
prioritizes productivity, accomplishment, and monetary value.
However we
come to the table for the game or
competition, we can still make an effort at a meaningful experience
and, succeeding or failing, learn how we might better face such
challenges, and others, as we reflect, change, and grow.
