B-I-N-G-O, Bingo!

Have you played Bingo with 35-40 people over the age of 80? If so, do you remember the experience? If you haven't, then the following statements might help you to understand. "I 25." "What did he say?" "I 25!" "G 60." "I can't hear him." "I wish they'd stop complaining and whining." "Gertrude, look at the letter, then the number." "How did she get Bingo already?! Did he even shuffle the cards?!" "You can't play that Bingo board unless you pay for it." "I never win at this game." "Why does he keep calling all the numbers in the N column?!" "B 10." "I needed B 10, 10 games ago."

Ahh! What a headache. Try sitting through that noisome chatter for 20 minutes; it's exhausting and mentally draining. If you haven't figure it out by now, I played Bingo with this group of people. When I sat in the Bingo room, all I could think about is how almost everyone in the room was depressing and bitter. Specifically, I couldn't figure out why people got mad over something they couldn't control. How was it that a person could complain about a number from 10 games ago?! That game will never come back. What's the point in fussing about it? What's the point in planning for B 10 to be called again?

If you really think about it, life is a lot like a game of Bingo. It's impossible to go back 10 Bingo games to change the outcome. Do people worry about 10 games ago tomorrow? Most likely, the answer is no. In life, we can't change what's happened in the past. Sure, there are experiences we would like to hold onto forever and some we can't overcome. Regardless, what's done is done. The future holds more opportunities.

In Bingo, it's difficult to plan strategic moves. During the game, the only thing that can be controlled is what you mark on your board. We can't control the way the cards are shuffled, the other players, the other Bingo cards, etc. In life, we cannot control what other people do and say, the elements in mother nature, and so forth. However, you can look at your own life; focus on what you can control, today. A degree of planning is necessary for the future, but, sometimes, the best moments are the ones that happen now.

The next time you find yourself worrying excessively about the past, or the future, think of now. Will the decisions I make now make me a better person tomorrow? Have I done enough today to make my family proud? Did I accomplish everything on my to-do list today? If you start thinking about your life as if it were a game of Bingo, then you may be the next lucky person to yell BINGO!