Growing up with a bunch of boy cousins wasn't so bad. Much to my six-year-old self's dismay, we didn't spend a lot of time playing with Barbies or watching princess movies. Regardless, when it came down to deciding what we'd spend the day doing, only one activity could satisfy us all.
Gaming.
As a longtime video game fan, I learned a lot about myself through the digital worlds of my childhood. I owe a lot to those adventures and, seeing as they've stuck with me thus far, I'd like to share with you some of the greatest life lessons that video games taught me.
1. Family matters.
Take it from the Super Mario Brothers! Having a sibling isn't always a walk in the park, but at the end of the day, we know to look out for one another. Love your family and try not to make success a competition. Find your bros, stick together, and take down those baddies as a team!
2. Actions speak louder than words.
The Legend of Zelda is my favorite video game series. Its courageous hero, Link, is always ready to save the day and can overcome all obstacles. Did I mention he's mute? Link is all about action. If you say you're going to do something, follow through-- especially when people are depending on you!
3. If at first you don't succeed, try again.
Anyone who's played a Tony Hawk game knows that a lot of tricks are hard to nail on the first try. With a bit of patience and lots of practice, even the most difficult tasks are doable. Don't give up when things get hard; let your failures motivate you to do better. Your hard work will pay off in the end!
4. Pick and choose your battles.
Playing Warcraft 2 is all about making logical decisions. It's valuable to realize that not everything is worth fighting over. Being hasty and hot-headed can cause a lot of chaos, so before you decide to go to battle with someone, consider the long-term consequences. Sometimes it's best to let it go.
5. Be yourself.
Everybody is unique-- the D.K. crew is proof of that! It's nice to know that being different isn't a bad thing. Grow confident in the person that you are and others will be attracted to your authenticity. There's no one else quite like you, and that can make for quite an adventure! Let your personality fly.
There are plenty of lessons to be learned from video games; these are just a few. What are some things that gaming has taught YOU?
