Just a Game of UNO

“STOP MAKING ME DRAW”, “don’t you dare use that reverse card”, “this is ridiculous…I’m getting buried”, and “get wrecked” were all frequent phrases used when playing UNO as a North Central District FFA officer last year. Whenever our team got together, a deck of UNO cards was essential and some time to play a few rounds was required. This “tradition” among our team all started at our summer retreat. We all crammed around a coffee table with a deck of UNO cards that we found, and we played and played until our sides hurt from laughing. Though Karrigan was always the one to get buried in cards and Eric & Jack seemed to always win, it was easily one of my favorite bonding memories with my team. 

Reflecting back on these fond memories, it may sound ridiculous, but there are a few life lessons we can take away from this 7-card-game. 

#1 We don’t get to choose the cards we’re dealt

In UNO, the person next to us may have 3 wild cards while we’re sitting there with nothing good. Trust me, I know how frustrating that can be, but we have a choice in this situation. We can choose to sit back and complain about the unfairness of it all, or we can buckle down and play with the cards we have. We might all accuse the shuffler from time to time but, in the end, we have to choose to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Just like life, we don’t all start on a level playing field, but we have the choice to give up or buckle down and keep going.

#2 Change is constant

The most frustrating thing when playing was to win one game, and then get a hand full of bad cards the next game. When you keep having to draw, you’re getting buried in cards, and the group is showing you no mercy, the game feels like it lasts forever (sound familiar, Karrigan?). But, in games where you’re winning and burying OTHERS in cards, the rounds are fun and you enjoy playing. In these situations, it’s important to remember this too shall pass, even the good times. Life may change colors on us or make us draw cards, but it’s important to remember that there are better days ahead if we keep playing.  

#3 Keep Playing

Trust me, there were plenty of times when I wanted to start the round over, especially when I became the victim to a stack of “draw 2” cards. But, we have to keep playing. I may not have had a winning streak, or even won any games for that matter, but it’s a test of character when we decide whether to give up or keep playing. As competitive as we all are (especially playing with Jack), the game truly isn’t about what great cards we have or don’t have. Rather, it’s about how many fights we have within us to stay at the table and keep playing.  

Though our team doesn’t get to see each other as often, I can guarantee that the next time we do, you can find us sitting around a table, UNO cards in hands, creating even more memories. 

In life, fate decided how the cards were shuffled and which ones you’d be dealt with. I hope you accept what you can’t change, buckle down when it gets tough, and keep playing at the table. 

Keep playing,

Abby