Tetris, the deceptively simple yet maddeningly addictive game that has captured hearts (and stolen sleep) for decades.
The Tetris Tournament That Backfired (and Other Tales of Tetris Woe)
My own Tetris journey began in college. My friends and I, convinced of our digital dexterity, decided to hold a tournament. We envisioned bragging rights, epic battles, maybe even a trophy made of strategically stacked pizza boxes. What we got instead was a crash course in humility (and the realization that I probably shouldn’t have eaten that entire bag of chips beforehand). You see, I was a “Tetris sprinter,” notorious for fast stacking and even faster game overs. I went for the quick wins, the instant gratification of clearing lines, with little regard for the looming towers of misfit blocks. My strategy, or lack thereof, was brutally exposed.
Tetris, much like life, rarely goes according to plan. You can’t always get the perfectly shaped block you need, just like you can’t always control the circumstances life throws your way. The key is to adapt, to learn to work with what you’ve got. It’s about accepting those inevitable “Tetris blocks” – the unexpected challenges, the less-than-ideal situations – and figuring out how to fit them into your life in a way that creates a semblance of order, even if it’s not picture perfect.
Life Lesson #2: The Power of Strategic Procrastination (Yes, It’s a Thing!)
Now, before you accuse me of endorsing procrastination, hear me out. There’s a certain type of strategic delay in Tetris that can actually work to your advantage. Sometimes, holding onto a line-clearing block for just a little longer, waiting for that perfect piece to create a Tetris (clearing four lines at once), is the smarter move. Similarly, in life, sometimes the best decisions are made not in haste but with a healthy dose of thoughtful “procrastination.” It’s about knowing when to wait for the right opportunity, the right information, or the right moment to act.