When I was growing up, playing house involved a Fisher Price kitchennette, an easy bake oven, and a few unsuspecting friends who were willing to taste my underbaked mud pies. Today, kids play house on the computer. Whether this is sad or genius I don't quite know, but I'm referencing this computer game because it sheds some real light on real life.
My sister and I used to have a blast building imaginary lives and imaginary houses, developing imaginary careers and arranging imaginary furniture. And yet, when I think about it, it all was so realistic.
For those of you that are familiar with the game, you'll remember that each character had several basic needs that you were responsible for tending to in order to make sure they were happy and healthy. Just like in real life, your avatar needed to eat, use the bathroom, stay fit, learn and have social interaction in order to maintain a healthy life. Each of these tasks took a certain amount of time, and some days, you just couldn't fit it all in.
Isn't it the same deal with real life? We know we have certain needs to tend to, but it's never as cut and dry as it was on the Sims. But perhaps it should be.
Yesterday, I spent a very lonely and unproductive day at work. All I really wanted to do was crawl into bed and cry. But I knew that wouldn't boost my happiness meter one bit. Instead, I laced up my running shoes, bolted out the door for the quickest 3 miles I've ever run, treated myself to a healthy vegetarian meal, and then headed back into the city to meet 4 of my favorite females for some much needed giggling, gossiping, and love. By the end of the night, as I drifted off into much needed sleep, I realized that my happiness meter was right where it should have been--full.
Life will always have it's ups and downs, but as long as we take care of ourselves, we'll always win. Thanks, Sims, for making something so complicated so simple in this digital world.
What do you need today?
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