I’m an 80’s kid. I’m the last of a generation who remembers at least a portion of childhood without video games. I played outside, read books, made ramps for my bike that I jumped off without a helmet, climbed trees, and experienced nature in ways I think many of today’s kids miss out on.

But I also know the addictive appeal of video games. I still remember the first time I saw someone play Super Mario Brothers, and I was instantly enthralled.

To an adventurous kid, being able to guide an on-screen character through fantastical obstacles and peril without actually hurting myself was astounding! I was actually able to live out an adventure right on the TV. And I could go to places that I could never go in real life. Wow! (I know, Reading Rainbow, that’s how books are supposed to be. 🙂 )

Obviously, we can talk a lot about the pros, cons, impact of, and so on of video games, but there is something that I discovered about video games that is actually a pretty good analogy for life: the ability to level up.

If you’re not a ‘gamer,’ most adventure games will start you off with basic abilities – simple running, jumping and maybe a weak weapon. You aren’t experienced yet, so you don’t yet have the greater abilities that you might develop later on. Only as you defeat enemies, solve puzzles, and acquire more experience will you increase your strength, skill, and ability to take on the bigger bosses.

I think the idea of ‘leveling-up’ can be helpful in how we think of our own lives.

In the next post, I’ll tell you a bit more about what I mean.