Energize and Organize
  • Welcome
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Home Office Organization
    • Residential Organization >
      • Are You Chronically Disorganized? >
        • Common Characteristics of Chronically Disorganized Individuals
      • Are you Situationally Disorganized?
      • Organizing by Learning and Action Style Preferences
    • Senior Organization
    • Student Organization >
      • Executive Function
      • Improving Your Child's Organizing Skills
      • Organizing by Learning/Sensory Preferences and Action Style Preferences
      • Organization and Time Management Strategies for Kids with L.D.
      • Student Organizing Tips - Internet Resources
  • Gallery
  • FAQ
  • Resources
    • Charitable Donation Information
    • Decisions, Decisions, Decisions ... To Keep or Not to Keep?
    • Green Tips from NAPO-New England Professional Organizers
    • Insightful Education Websites for Children and Students with All Kinds of Abilities
    • Inspirational Organizing Quotes
    • Interesting Readings
    • Junk Mail and Telemarketing Phone Call Reduction Resources
    • Miscellaneous Organizational Tips
    • NAPO Code of Ethics
    • NAPO-NE Tips for Adopting Green Organizing and Celebrating Earth Day
    • NAPO-NE Tips for Practical Ways to Get Organized
    • Outstanding Professional Organizer Websites
    • Organizing Product Stores
    • Resale Information
  • Testimonials/In the News
    • Testimonials
    • In the News
  • Contact
  • Blog

Energize and Organize:  In Mah Jongg as in Life

5/4/2016

 
Picture
​In Mah Jongg As In Life
-Anonymous

"In life we start with a set number of random chromosomes.

The tiles line up on the rack before us, like DNA sequences and chance circumstance. We begin to make sense of the randomness, to arrange bams together or notice number sequences. We make sense of what we’ve been given to start with. We form our core “identity” and try to make sense of it.

This is, in Mah Jongg, as in Life, an element of destiny or inevitability. Some might call it FATE. Some people are born with more “jokers” – more good fortune, if you will – than others.  Some people an obvious life path, based on given talent of proclivity.

But in Mah Jongg, as in Life, we have free will. From the tiles before us, we have a choice as to which hand to play, which path to take. There are often several possible directions open to us. The decisions we make early on affect the direction our hand will take. The skill we bring to the play once that path is chosen affects our outcome as well. So Life, as in Mah Jongg, is a combination of chance, choice and skill.
​
The beauty of Mah Jongg and Life is that even with the worst opening set of tiles, or enduring harsh childhoods, there are several directions open to us. But with practice and hard-won wisdom of many games played (read  “years lived”), we get better at spotting the best choices to make, the most optimal paths to follow, given what we have to work with.  Even the tiles themselves, with their lovely imagery, speak of Life to me: the “wind” of change, the “dragons” we must slay, the “flowers” that beautify our world, the circle of “dots” of Life itself and the “cracks” we sometimes trip on or fall into.

Like Life, Mah Jongg is never “fair”. The random distribution of tiles favors one player over the other. Some are gifted from the very outset with clear patterns, the blessing of numerous Jokers, making their game much easier, and their chance of winning much higher. But again, as in Life, skill and judgement, patience and effort, can allow even the most mediocre of initial hands to prevail: just as with carelessness, lack of focus, or poor decision-making, the best initial hands can fail.
​
Mah Jongg has taught me that as in Life, decisiveness is key. One must be able to spot a direction early on and have the “leap of faith” courage to fearlessly commit to it, letting all tempting by-paths go. One must let seemingly “good tiles” (i.e., clinging to two flowers or those alluring dragons) go to commit to the best potential outcome. But even then, there have been times where a chosen path hits a dead end. Chance fails to favor it (i.e., you’ve committed to a hand with a pair you don’t have and realize the last tile you need now lies in the discard heap.). Then, as in Life, you do not panic, but go back to the card, dig deep and find a new path, knowing that even though your chances of “winning” have been greatly reduced, you don’t lose hope, you don’t give up, you fight to the end.

Mah Jongg requires alertness and vigilance. Get too distracted and you’ll miss picking up that joker on someone else’s rack when the opportunity arises. Hesitate and you’ll miss “calling” for just the right tile, losing a critical chance to succeed. In Life, too, opportunity comes by just once sometimes – if we’re “asleep at the wheel” it passes us by forever.

In Mah Jongg, as in Life, the anticipation of a win – the possibility of your choices working out, the suspense of not knowing what will turn up next, the patience required as you wait and hope the tile you need will be the next one discarded or the next one drawn – is the key to its enjoyment. It truly is “the journey” as the cliché reminds us which allows us to feel enjoyment in just playing, even if we don’t win.

My rare victories in Mah Jongg, while thrilling, have reminded me that triumph is fleeting. You start again each time with a new hand, new circumstances. One win does not guarantee another. But, you keep playing, keep risking, keep striving, knowing that in Mah Jongg, as in Life, each game, each win and loss, makes you a bit better player. "

Anne, thank you so much for sharing these wonderful words of wisdom with Pat, Bette, Kathy, Judy, Marianne, Carol, and me in our Mah Jongg group.  It's a pleasure to share it with my Energize and Organize professional organizing blog readers around the world!


Remember, if you need assistance and support with your family life, home and/or office organization,  you are cordially invited to contact ...
Donna LaRoche, M.Ed., Professional Organizer Serving Cape Cod, MetroWest and Eastern Massachusetts     Contact:  617.640.2366    www.energizeandorganize.com​​​​​​​​

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    Family Life
    Home
    Office

    RSS Feed

Welcome
About Us
Services
Gallery                                                         
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
Testimonials
Contact 
Blog
Phone:  617.640.2366

Email:  
 [email protected]


Organizing Barnstable, Bourne, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro and Yarmouth    © 2025

Photos from jimmcsweeney jimmcsweeney, walknboston, frankieleon, tdlucas5000, marneejill, Larry Lamsa, Rina Pitucci (Tilling 67), tdlucas5000, wizardofozgurl, Rennett Stowe, kimblomqvist, cote, Hugo-90, likeaduck, jasleen_kaur, wuestenigel, Clint Mason, ЕгорЖуравлёв, dalecruse, tdlucas5000, tdlucas5000, cafecredit, Montgomery County Planning Commission, hellotidy, jerryrauth, Jeffrey Camphens, Rusty Clark ~ 100K Photos, Princess Ruto, Scioto Photos, AcrylicArtist, Bennilover, David Meurin, nahid-v, Eduardo Deboni, Swallowtail Garden Seeds, torbakhopper, avrene, roseannadana, quinn.anya, dalecruse, Bennilover, krossbow, (Imagine) 2.0, fontplaydotcom, Muffet, William_Doyle, tdlucas5000, LadyDragonflyCC - >;<, stockcatalog, David Paul Ohmer, SurFeRGiRL30, TurtleCreek-Branson, ThoroughlyReviewed, dullhunk, Michael Khor, susivinh, Kirt Edblom, anitakhart, zhaffsky, Giuseppe Milo (www.pixael.com), mnapoleon, wuestenigel, The Simpsons (Lee, Shirley, Luke and Rachel), homethods, vijay_chennupati, Gail Frederick, Kurt Stocker, Gail Frederick, (Imagine) 2.0, themostinept, Bennilover, cattan2011, cattan2011, frankieleon, FootMassagez, melissa richards photography, Kirt Edblom, Doolallyally, Topu Saha, Bennilover, tdlucas5000, cattan2011, Bobby McKay., amanessinger, blumenbiene, tnilsson.london, France1978, okchomeseller, ajay_suresh, njhomepictures, dee_dee_creamer, Bennilover, Ravi_Shah, macieklew, Jeffrey Camphens, Goedeker's, kennethkonica, cattan2011, e27182818284, vwcampin, dMaculate, Orchids love rainwater, PLeia2, David Paul Ohmer, ThoseGuys119, scootergenius02, judithjackson957, Scouse Smurf, Feathering the Nest, tdlucas5000, closet factory, cattan2011, Senior Guidance, kennethkonica, watts photos1, tdlucas5000, kennethkonica, Artur Malinowski, vwcampin, ЕгорЖуравлёв, Tobyotter, inbounduk, Diana Parkhouse, Paula R. Lively, tdlucas5000, France1978, Kirt Edblom, Gail Frederick, hellotidy, Digital Magic Photography, Infomastern, kennethkonica, Ani Carrington, spbda, Soupmeister, tdlucas5000, UnknownNet Photography, ancasta1901, wuestenigel (CC BY 2.0), torbakhopper, tdlucas5000, State Farm, Bennilover, marneejill, tdlucas5000, Jeff Kubina, amslerPIX, joiseyshowaa, Angelbattle bros, r.nial.bradshaw, Goedeker's, Antrell Williams, majolie46, symphony of love, wuestenigel, theglobalpanorama, cattan2011, tdlucas5000, pureplanetrecycling, Ruth and Dave, wuestenigel, Rawpixel Ltd, Got Credit, romanboed, Kelly Hunter, kud4ipad, Ozzy Delaney, Doolallyally, MICOLO J Thanx 4, 2.4m views, P_Linehan, taymtaym, steve p2008, mariaronnaluna, Nic's events, DaveCowieMT, Jocelyn777 - Celebrating Europe, Anders Ruff Custom Designs, michaelmueller410, kennethkonica, scriptingnews, Pictures from GTB, CJS*64 "Man with a camera", romanboed, POP'S PIC'S, judy dean, garlandcannon, Harold Litwiler, Poppy, Goedeker's, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Luciano Belviso, theanthonyryan, r.nial.bradshaw, PickComfort, Robert.Pittman, Goedeker's, Paula R. Lively, Me in ME, osseous, sunoochi, PLeia2, cattan2011, Patricia Pierce, mikecogh, Anthony Quintano, Kirt Edblom, Jeff Kubina, designsbykari, torbakhopper, roseannadana, orangemania, SparkFunElectronics, M. Martin Vicente, JeepersMedia, John Brighenti, chimpwithcan, wuestenigel, Bennilover
  • Welcome
  • About Us
  • Services
    • Home Office Organization
    • Residential Organization >
      • Are You Chronically Disorganized? >
        • Common Characteristics of Chronically Disorganized Individuals
      • Are you Situationally Disorganized?
      • Organizing by Learning and Action Style Preferences
    • Senior Organization
    • Student Organization >
      • Executive Function
      • Improving Your Child's Organizing Skills
      • Organizing by Learning/Sensory Preferences and Action Style Preferences
      • Organization and Time Management Strategies for Kids with L.D.
      • Student Organizing Tips - Internet Resources
  • Gallery
  • FAQ
  • Resources
    • Charitable Donation Information
    • Decisions, Decisions, Decisions ... To Keep or Not to Keep?
    • Green Tips from NAPO-New England Professional Organizers
    • Insightful Education Websites for Children and Students with All Kinds of Abilities
    • Inspirational Organizing Quotes
    • Interesting Readings
    • Junk Mail and Telemarketing Phone Call Reduction Resources
    • Miscellaneous Organizational Tips
    • NAPO Code of Ethics
    • NAPO-NE Tips for Adopting Green Organizing and Celebrating Earth Day
    • NAPO-NE Tips for Practical Ways to Get Organized
    • Outstanding Professional Organizer Websites
    • Organizing Product Stores
    • Resale Information
  • Testimonials/In the News
    • Testimonials
    • In the News
  • Contact
  • Blog