2 Reasons to Learn or Have Your Children Learn to Play Chess

Many people see chess as a pointless and time consuming game of patience where players stare at a checkered board and move pieces in no particular order to gain the upper hand. Unarguably in some ways they are correct. Chess is a game with 32 pieces and 64 squares. The two contestants sit on opposite sides of the board with an equal number of pieces and the simple goal of beating the other. Players obey the rules while moving their share of pieces across the board in sometimes bold or conservative fashion to achieve this goal. That sounds simple enough; a meaningless and time consuming game. Right?

For those of you who feel this way and wonder whether it would be a waste of time or not to learn how to play, improve your game, or have your children to learn to play chess here are two reasons as to why you should.

Reason Number 1: Become A Better Problem Solver With Chess

Let's start this off with some simple questions. I'll ask a random person that doesn't understand the importance of chess. "So winning is all you have to do in a game of chess? Can you tell me how?"

"Just put the person in checkmate." Not a bad answer. Right?

I continue, "But how would you go about doing that?"

"By obeying the rules I would move my pieces over to the opposing side of the board without getting them all taken, put pressure on the enemy king, and then I would put them in checkmate." That doesn't sound too dumb either.

Let's keep at it. I wonder if you are seeing a trend here. "I suppose that sounds good; but how?

Awkward silence followed by, "What do you mean how?"

I think he's starting to get the picture. "Exactly what I said, 'How?'"

I'm sure I could string on this dead end conversation for hours. But it's simple. I was asking a trick question. Because there are an infinite amount of situations that occur on a chess board from start to finish there can never be a simple (do this to win) answer that cannot be rebutted. To explain my point in simple a simpler way, what works in one situation won't work in every situation.

Because of that reason a competitive chess player must have a flexible mind that takes time to analyze an entire situation before making a move. For example, the player must take into consideration their current plan, resources, strengths, and weaknesses as well as that of their opponent. Even more so, they should take into consideration the importance of all 64 squares at the same time. Does that sound easy? No? Well that was the easiest way that I could explain it.

Lots of times a person is mentally exhausted after playing a competitive chess game. The person has to analyze a situation, use their creativity to make a plan, and then do it again (repeat, repeat). I suppose it's the same as mentally hitting the gym. Studies have even proven that playing chess shortens recovery time for brain injuries and can even lower a person's chances of getting Alzheimer's disease. Click here to learn more.

Now let's take the competitive chess player and his or her problem solving abilities into the real world. What we end up with is an analytical and creative problem solver (yeah so that's both sides of the brain in case you missed that). Though the problems of the real world versus those of chess are very different, to a chess player the properties are the same; follow the rules, take into consideration all of my resources and develop them, analyze the intricacies of the current situation, create a plan, and then execute. Sound convincing enough yet?

Reason Number 2: Chess Teaches Good Habits Like Development

The first 12 moves of a chess game are together known as the opening. Here each player starts with a beginning strategy to enhance the activity and potential of all of their pieces. Though there are a wide range of strategies and tactics to gaining activity and enhancing potential, the idea never changes; create a situation on the board that brings life and harmony to my pieces in order to conduct a single plan. By developing your pieces to enhance their potential, you increase your options (I can do this if I want or I can do that if I want). Normally it is the player with the least amount of options that loses. Throughout the duration of the game, there will hopefully be more time to develop. When these chances arise seize them.

So what practicality is there in development? Should that really even be a question? Early in all of our lives we begin by developing. Lots of times our childhood personal development was based on our surrounding environment. As our lives continue we begin to make more choices concerning what we would prefer to develop and what seems less important. We manage our time to better ourselves how we see fit.

Personal development creates options. Not very many people would hire a sociologist to be an engineer. Therefore when we manage our time by being constructive and developing it as if we are hinting towards the future we would like to see for ourselves. And again, through the duration of the game, there will hopefully be more time to develop. When these chances arise seize them!

Normal Does Not Mean Correct

Avoid stunting your personal development by constricting your mind to a box. Step out of your parameters despite a fear of others no longer accepting you. Most importantly, we must accept ourselves. You are your mind. Allow yourself to see things from perceptions and angles that you had never thought of before. Let your mind question society's popular notions no matter how normal they are. Normal does not mean correct. Tradition can be a terrible thing if it does not promote free thinking.

Let's Make Life More Meaningful Starting Today

Do not be afraid to lose sleep over the things you wish to achieve or ideas you wish to uncover. Sometimes this is a huge barrier that we place in front of ourselves. When we do not make time to do the things that are meaningful and important to us it makes life mundane and limits our personal development. We do have the time; we just have to seize it. A loss of sleep is a very small price to having a meaningful existence.

This Veteran’s Day Let’s Not Forget

This is a picture of me in Talifar, Iraq in 2005. I was on a patrol with my unit and the mission was to hand out transistor radios to the families in our area. The kids were pretty happy to see us that day.

This is another picture of me in Sadr City, 2007 during a raid on a suspected house of a terrorist. To see more pictures from my unit during this adventure click here.

Lastly I would like to honor my friend and fallen comrade. Zachary Tomczak was killed on a patrol that we were on together September 25, 2007. He was an amazing young man; sweet, kind, and strong in every way imaginable. You will never be forgotten.
Send your love, thoughts, and encouragement to all of the heroes here this Veteran's Day; past and present.

Are Muslims in America Second Class Citizens?

You find yourself standing in a crowded area (downtown at rush hour, the airport during the holiday season to see your loved ones, the subway) with people routinely bumping each other shoulder to shoulder without any sense of personal space.  This is my bubble and you stay out of it!  There doesn't seem to be any real order here or malicious intent; only controlled chaos like a colony of bees swarming in and around its hive. (No offense to bees but I've never heard one say, "Excuse me".)


Through the bustle you see Him.  Anxiety strikes you, yet you try to appear calm.  You look around to see if anyone else can see Him and if so, do they seem to be as nervous as you are.  Is it getting warm in here?  You seem to have begun perspiring a bit.  Please, not today.  I just wanted to...fill in your action here.  He seems to look a bit nervous as well.  You can see it in His eyes.  This can't be good.  Perhaps this exact spot isn't where you need to be standing right now.  You struggle to turn in the crowd.  "Excuse me. Ex-excuse me, please."  That's a good child, polite until death.  You don't take your eyes off him.  He begins to gaze over the crowd.  His lips move methodically as if he were saying the same thing over and over again.  Though it isn't English, you recognize it.  His facial expression is no longer nervous; perhaps he has found some sort of resolution.  He cracks the slightest grin as he looks over the crowd; the chant continues.  Suddenly the smile fades as his teeth begin to snarl his brow falls and his eyes gleam as that of an Islamic Warrior.  He grabs for the zipper of his worn leather jacket.  The jacket is unzipped and falls to the floor.  You realize that you do recognize what he is saying; it is now audible. 


"ALLAH AKBAR!" he is now yelling.  Wait a second. You mean they really say that stuff in real life?  Cool!  Time stops as this Middle Eastern man stands amongst the crowd in his galabiyya and suicide vest ensemble.  Where's the Fashion Police when you really need them?  You push with all of your strength now against the hustle.  Turn damn it!  Turn now or die!  The first thing that comes to your mind slips out of your mouth.  Well there goes the, "Polite until death," compliment I just gave you.  Now if you live through this, remind me to wash your mouth out with soap!"  The sound of the explosion is deafening; you feel the sound penetrate through your very being.   Still alive! As you regain your wits, screams are all that can be heard.  The hearing in your left ear has obviously been tinkered with. 


Your spirits begin fall as you surrender to the reality of the current tragedy.  Your legs (it seems like everyone else's) are pumping like pistons involuntarily.  To your right you see a well built man running alongside you with a little boy in his arms.  "Daddy, why did the man blow up?"
So when you hear someone saying, "My name is... (insert popular Arabic/ Middle Eastern name here)," what do lots of Americans think?


"But when I get on a plane - I gotta tell you - if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think - you know - they are identifying them self first and foremost as Muslims.  I get worried.  I get nervous." - Juan Williams


"Muslims Killed Us On 9/11!" - Bill O'Reilly



Still not convinced?  No, my good boy.  What exactly is your point?  There was even a story on Fox News speaking of a poll conducted that stated 1 in 5 Americans believe President Barrack Obama is Muslim (as if such a finding lowers his potential to be a credible American President). 
My point is quite simple.  American society through its experience and fear of terrorist attacks has painted a picture that all Muslims and people with Middle Eastern features are suspects. 


But wait - I'm Hindu!


Sorry buddy, how 'bout for now you go stand over there with the rest of the Middle Easterners.


Perhaps we should take the time to notice the path of our country's mind set when we have an American Preacher declaring observances such as "International 'Burn a Quran' Day".  Terry Jones at one point stated that, "The message," (of burning Qurans as a national observance to the ninth anniversary of 9/11), "we are trying to send is much more important than people being offended."  Was his controversial fifteen minutes of fame a bunch of farfetched bull?  Or was he simply the only one with enough courage to express a concept that so many Americans had already internalized?


So I guess the question would be, "Do good Muslims feel uncomfortable in our society at all?"
Of course not; this is America for God's sake, the Land of Opportunity. Right?


This is the part in Escaping the Box where your opinion matters.  Let's see what it is you have to say about it.  Have Muslims in America become second class citizens?  I dare you to send this post to a friend and make this conversation a worldwide event.  Wait!  Better yet, I take that back.  I Triple Dog Dare Ya.

Latest Poem Entry by T.S. Wilkins

This is another one for my poetry lovers.  This poet I luckily ran into on Twitter.  I  was immediately intrigued by her profile and asked personally for her to submit a piece of work.  So with no further delay I would like to introduce T. S. Wilkins to the stage of Escaping The Box.  Enjoy.

I am a 26 year old inspirational poet (poetess, really) who lives in South Carolina. My journey as a poet started at the age of five, and has become a very enlightening experience. I am the author of two books. My latest book is entitled He is Noah which is a personal dedication to those suffering from any mental disability. My interest in poetry is primarily focused on offering inspiration to those who struggle in any form in life.


The Hope Within the Light
Beyond the flattering glimpses of hope,
Dwells the trembling reality of a fragile soul
Entangled in the chains of wishes gone astray,
Trapped in the deceitful realm of an unorganized dream
Too stubborn to come true,
Captured by the gloom of a lonely day
The whispers within their soul will say….
I understand you, Willow Tree—
How your roots are grounded in the soil of pain
As your soul drags on and tears remain
That constant burden and heavy weight
Upon the branches of your faith—
But still you must endure the rain,
The pulling of the wind’s disdain…
Pulling you away from the hope worth keeping,
Yes!
Yes!
I understand your weeping.
I know your sorrow, Silent Shadow;
Your happiness hanging on the gallows
Mimicking who you wish to be
But who can know,
And who will see
The tears that flow in darkness there
There beyond what you can bear….
Beyond the screams of misery,
Hidden in darkness silently?
Misfortune’s out to steal your life,
And rob you of your wishful light!
It keeps you in the darkness crying.
No one sees your soul is dying.
No one knows what sorrow’s taking!
No one knows how bad it’s aching
To shout the name of destiny!
I hear your haunted symphony!
I hear that dreadful tune within
The strings of woeful violins!
I feel your failure, Fallen Leaf—
How you fell down to
The ground of grief…
Fell down there
To be stepped on still.
I know how that failure feels.

For beyond my flattering glimpses of hope,
Dwells the trembling reality of my fragile soul
Entangled in the chains of wishes gone astray,
I’m trapped in the deceitful realm
Of an unorganized dream
Too stubborn to come true,
Captured by the chance of another day
The whispers within my soul will say….
Please understand my troubled soul
And the music it seems
That sorrow composed,
But know I want to live my life…
Know I still believe the light—
I understand the willow tree—
The silent shadow, the fallen leaf….
Though sorrow tells such constant lies
And the wind will witness my lonely cries

Know that life is in my eyes.
For I have to be the midnight moon,
I have to shine amidst the gloom.
I have to shine throughout the night,
For hope shall dwell within the light.
~T.S. Wilkins~
tswilkins@abstract-soul.com

Check out "The Community Begins Now" to find out how you and your friends can submit your poems to Escaping The Box.

Pick a Side: Whoopi or O’Reilly

I watched the surreal clip from The View repeatedly. The conversation between Goldberg, Behar, and O'Reilly unfolded in my head like some cheesy pop culture 80's movie: right before your eyes you see the young blonde bombshell with her layers and bangs. You can't help but notice her thin waist and oversized breasts (definitely fake). Men, women, and children can't help but stare in disbelief as she stands on the diving board over the pool in her inappropriately flimsy red bikini. She gracefully drops into the water and within seconds brings her head to the surface whisking her long hair back and forth (better yet she does it in slow mo…Everything back then was better in slow mo and you know it!). The camera pans out and the cheesy 80's pop song begins (George Michael, of course). The camera focuses on an eight year old boy. His mouth hangs open and his eyes become as large as basketballs before his mother's hand swiftly covers them. Back to the blonde; the camera view continues to widen as you come to the realization that perhaps you were right from the beginning. They were definitely fake.

Bill O'Reilly said what! "Muslims Killed Us On 9/11!"

Cover your ears and go to your room honey. You shouldn't hear this until you're fifty. Some of us just stood with our mouths open like the little eight year old in the cheesy 80's movie.

"Oh my God, that is such ****. Extremists – excuse me – extremists did that," Whoopi fires back so quickly she stumbles over her words. Ironically, it seemed as if an explosion had just taken place on that very stage.

Others at the same time, stood there with mischievous grins, as if a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Finally, someone says what we've all been dying to hear. The grin explodes into hysterical laughter and clapping. Encore my good boy, Bill! Encore!

Within those few moments so much had been said by both words and body language. The truth for so many had finally been said and she stood there topless and exposed for all to see.

So go ahead folks. Step up to the plate. What's the truth for you? The Box is back and better than ever!