NAKED ANXIETY: Scrabble or Monopoly Anyone??

Well, welcome to the latest installment of NAKED ANXIETY!! I first want to apologize for the lack of dating fiasco's this summer, but things got crazy...

SO, anyone up for Scrabble or Monopoly?? It seems to me, as we age, our affection for games change. This can be what we play, how competitive we get, and how we cope with a big loss. I had somehow built up in my head, as I ventured into my 30's, game playing would change and quite possibly stop happening. WOW, was I wrong. Not only do the games exist, but somehow in your 30's you try to convince yourself it's really not a game you're playing, but rather some battle of willpower and determination.

Let's face it, it's a game. Why the difficulty when dating becomes serious?? I can tell you this 30-something girl has heard it all. I'm afraid to commit, I want commitment too much, I have issues with my mother, I didn't have a mother, and my all time favorite - I'm doing this for you / us. Yeah right! So, it has occurred to me, successful daters aren't any more intelligent, beautiful, or lucky in love then any of the rest of us. They simply have the guts and willpower to endure the plethora of games thrown at us. Now, this goes both ways. Not only do men play their fair share of games, but women do to. Not to mention, I've recently witnessed mutual game playing. One party will feel they are the injured party. Instead of growing some whatever (pick your genitalia) and communicating what they want, they chose to play a game in seek of a desired outcome. Once said game is engaged, the second party will counter with one of their own and before you know it, you're in a full fledged battle to the last one standing.

Let me refresh your memory of the players at hand... Aphrodite, Nyx, and Nike, my best gal pals, who like me are essentially single and 30. We've previously endured the Alpha Zeus, and the unavailable Hermes. SO enter the newest player, Apollo.

Apollo, is a wonderful one on the outside. Respectable, caring, creative, loving, responsible, but on the inside he has moments of being a train wreck. One has to ask about the train wreck part. On one level, who doesn't have one going on from time to time. However, you then have to think, what is causing the train wreck??

Being the oh, so guarded one I am these days, my cynical thoughts were ran over by a hurling train out of control. Before I know it, love was in the mix and I'm suddenly on board the run away train. Initially the ride was a fun one. A little out of control, a little too fast, and just a little exciting. Although I knew the risk of being on a run away train, I also thought eventually I could gain control and end up in at least the engineer's seat part of the time. Boy, was I wrong. Not only did the train hurl over a cliff eventually, but it took down both passengers and possibly a conductor. So, enter the game... Despite the previous discussion of always being honest and not playing games, Mr. Apollo decided now was the time. It's as if he went over the cliff and I managed to find a clever tree branch to hold onto and climb my way back up. I can see Apollo at the bottom. He's alive and well and he can see me, but for whatever reason he has decided he won't communicate with me. No asking for help, no blaming me for the train wreck, no nothing. Funny thing, this greatly resembles a major game of Parcheesi to me. He's ignored my offer to call for help, climb down to help, even throw a rope... By all appearances, Apollo has left the building, but he's not gone. I know all too well, he's lingering in the parking lot awaiting my next move.

Take Aphrodite for example. She too has endured years of battles. Who can withstand the fierce competition the longest?? Who will give in the first?? At the end of the day we both wondered, after the "winner" is left standing what do they really win?? Could it be the winner of the game is really not a winner at all?? Moreover, why even begin in the fun at all??Honestly, in the world of games in dating, who wins?? What comes of it?? Can a winner really be determined. After all the penalties and foul shots, whats left?? Is a relationship doomed from that point on?? So regardless if your game is Chess, Checkers, or Trival Persuit, it's all really just a big game of Life...........

Stripped down, exposed and real…
~N/A