After a long day with many thoughts racing to compete for my attention, I find board games give me the opportunity to take care of myself, to relax, focus, and often share in memories with loved ones around me. I find the experience of playing games supportive of my own mental health and the whole practice I would categorize as self-care.
Now why am I sharing this? Well, it's because May is Mental Health Month, a time where we can reflect on our own journeys and share our own stories, which in turn helps reduce stigma, raise awareness, and promote self-care across our communities. We as people, have made many strides in sharing around our mental health, but it's a topic that needs to continue to be discussed as us sharing has a strong impact on others and can often help others take agency of their own mental health journey.
Now, this week we released A Gentle Rain, a game all about self-care and taking the time to yourself, leaning into the cozy puzzle. Kevin Wilson, the designer shared the origins of this game with us:
"A Gentle Rain started life as a small game that I sent out to friends and family for Christmas in 2013. Because I didn't know if everyone I was sending it out to would have anyone to play with, I designed it so it could be played with 1 or more players. I also decided that since the holidays are so stressful, that I'd try to design a relaxing, zen-like game, and I drew inspiration from solitaire and jigsaw puzzles, both of which I sometimes use to control my own anxiety. I'm prone to the occasional panic attack, but I've found that if I can occupy my mind in a low-key way, it helps calm me down. So, I tried to recreate that feeling of "thought without thought" in A Gentle Rain as well. And given how many folks have told me that they use it to calm their nerves, I feel like I hit the mark."
What's been incredible is the reception this game has received, many have resonated with the game for their own self-care journey. Gamers have categorized this tile placement experience as "relaxation from anxiety" and continue to play it on an ongoing basis, building a variety of lakes on their tabletops.
Kevin has also shared that many folks have personally reached out to him, sharing their story, and how much the game has supported them, this included a therapist that now has this game in their waiting room area for people to enjoy. These stories are always so incredible to hear as we all experience games in different ways, and to know the positive impacts our games have is truly priceless.
With all of this said, I encourage you to reflect upon your table top experiences, and how they may have benefitted your own journey over your lifetime, and take a moment to check in with a friend or family member of yours and maybe share a game with them. Let's continue to support a more mindful, connected, and compassionate table top community.
