How Scrabble Became My Unexpected Therapy Session

My first introduction to Scrabble was an obligatory family game night experience. As a child, I had often gazed at those wooden tiles, trying to form words, with the elusive Q and Z tiles often remaining a mystery. Little did I know that years later, this simple word game would offer me solace, perspective, and, unexpectedly, therapy. Rediscovering the Game It started during a turbulent phase in my life. My job was stressing me out; I was grappling with the end of a relationship, and the four walls of my apartment echoed my isolation. I stumbled upon the old Scrabble board in my attic on a gloomy Saturday afternoon. I laid out the board and started a solitary game out of sheer boredom. It’s a different experience, playing Scrabble alone. There’s no competition, no time pressure, just a quiet communion with words. I found myself laying out words that seemed to resonate with my feelings: ‘alone,’ ‘dream,’ ‘hope,’ ‘drift,’ and yes, even ‘pain.’ The Healing Power of Words Each word I laid out drew from my subconscious. They mirrored my emotional state, my aspirations, and my fears. Like journaling but in a more abstract way, the game was turning into a reflection of my psyche. During tough days, I started challenging myself to lay out positive words and shift my focus from the negative to the hopeful. ‘Laugh,’ ‘dance,’ ‘love,’ ‘future’ — each dish was a gentle nudge, reminding me of the beauty and potential of life. <a href="https://medium.com/illumination/how-scrabble-became-my-unexpected-therapy-session-fe41cea86d4e">Read More</a>