Picture walking into an arcade; the people, lights, bells, sirens and games are an exercise in sensory overload, yet we enter, wide eyed, surging with anticipation and expectation. But for what? The experience? The challenge? The victory? The giant bear or the remote controlled car behind the counter? All of the above? Or is it just for the fun of playing the game?

The answer is different for each of us. In fact, so is the arcade itself. Just like your life. While similar in form and function, your own personal arcade is shaped by the life you came into and the people who welcomed you in, but ultimately the arcade is your own and you determine its design. Whether by choice, chance or circumstance.

So we all come into the arcade with a different amount we can put into it. Our family plays a role in the starting point but in the arcade, skill, luck and persistence all figure prominently into where you finish. The games, layout, structure and people change overtime but you remain the constant. You are the constant that changes and institutes the change to varying degrees. So we play the games, intrigued by some, uninterested in others, learning our way around until we finally choose the game we feel confident we can master. Or at least isn’t rigged so no one can win.

Now, I know the games I like or will do well at, but wonder why someone, like you, may have chosen the ones I found unappealing or not worth the effort or just too much of a long shot. Why did you choose that game? The answer is as simple as our choices in life; there is no simple answer. Some are drawn by desire. Some by talent. Some because our older sibling or parent taught us how to play. And some were just curious. Some know the game or games they play from the moment they enter, while others drift from game to game, not wanting to invest the time or the coin. Still others blow their coins randomly with no rhyme or reason. Now there is right or wrong. It’s our personal choice. Something I happen to be very fond of, and I know you are as well.

So some people succeed at their games, a steady stream of tickets pouring into their hands. Others just get lucky, the right timing, the right placement within the game. After all, being lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time has led many to a windfall of tickets or money, as it’s commonly known. Still others toil between games or despite great effort, only mange to accumulate a few tickets.

Once we’ve amassed our tickets, however many that might be, do we run to the counter immediately to cash in? Do we hold them until we are ready to leave? What are we going to get? So many choices. And I like that. I’m guessing you do too.

If you head to the counter with a pile of tickets, the choices are wide open. If your tickets are limited, you’ll most likely be a bit more selective and have to choose a smaller prize. A silver lining, perhaps?

So you hit the jackpot and you’re so excited you run to the counter and get the bear, the remote control car, two strobe lights and a drone. It was big jackpot! But you’re not done playing and now you have to carry all this stuff around the arcade. You also find that the things that were out of reach (behind the counter), they might seem a little cheap or at least not as shiny as they were among the other prizes. Still, many are envious of your haul, but most don’t realize you’re working extra to lug all this stuff around. Having to keep an eye on it, take care of it or whatever. Sometimes it’s a pain in the ass. I personally don’t enjoy lugging stuff through life. I mean how cool is it to have something if it causes you more stress. Travel light for light travel.

Now the ones who didn’t win much; what do they choose? Some stale taffy or gum? Gone too soon, not worth the effort. Wasteful? Could be, but it’s the choice that holds the value. How about a super ball or a Yo-Yo? Well, as an only child I can tell you, the ball and Yo-Yo can entertain a person, like me, for days. It’s simple, fun, challenging and can actually last. It also fits in your pocket. And if you lose it, it’s easily replaced. Let’s call this the fishing rod. In some ways less valuable, in other ways invaluable.

So when it’s time to leave the arcade, what’s the deal? Well, no one stays forever. We were all are taken by the lights and bells initially, but as time wears on, we see the cracks in the walls, the dirty rug, the creepy guy standing in the random doorway and hopefully figured out which games are rigged. But what did we really get from our time and energy?

In my honest experience, I enjoyed the people I was with. We played together, watched each other’s successes and failures, offered guidance and above all, were together, having fun. That’s priceless. In the moments of the game itself, our personal goal was to win. To beat the game. Was it the prize that made you happy? Or was it the game itself, the challenge, the fire burning inside you to succeed?

For me, the tickets are nice, the arcade itself is exciting, but it is the people I have met and got to know along the way make the experience. The bond. The people who taught me valuable lessons in arcade survival and game theory. My pearls of wisdom. And being a competitive type, I love the challenge of the game, pushing myself to be better. The ride up, the improvement is what drives me. In some ways, in all ways actually, once you’ve won big, if you beat the game again, it’s not quite as fulfilling. Of course I’ll continue to play the game because I’m good at it, but for me to get the fire burning again, I’ll need a new game, a new challenge or maybe I’ll just kick back and play with a Yo-Yo or a ball. What’s up next for you?