Play Silly Games, Win Silly Prizes

The other day, I stumbled across this image, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how much it resonated with me. It captures something I often remind myself: Play silly games, win silly prizes.

How many times do we chase things because society tells us we should? We aim for the shiny trophies, the applause, the fancy titles. And then, when we finally “win,” we realize the prize wasn’t what we actually wanted. It’s like playing Monopoly all night just to win paper money—fun in the moment, but useless when it comes to paying rent.

The top half of this image captures that perfectly. The status games. These are the multiplayer, zero-sum games where you’re constantly comparing yourself to others. The prizes—grades, applause, titles—might seem valuable, but over time, they often leave us feeling… empty. That applause fades, the title feels hollow, and the grades? Well, they stop mattering pretty quickly once you leave school.

Then there’s the natural games. These are single-player, positive-sum games where you’re playing for things that matter deeply to you—things like family, health, peace, and knowledge. Sure, these require paying in pain now (think about those 5 a.m. workouts or the tough conversations with loved ones), but the return on investment is massive. These are the games that lead to fulfillment, not just fleeting satisfaction.

The tricky part is that society doesn’t always cheer for the natural games. There’s no public applause for prioritizing your health or carving out quiet time with your family. Nobody hands you a trophy for inner peace. But these are the prizes that actually last. The ones that keep giving.

Let me tell you, I’ve been caught up in status games more times than I’d like to admit. But here’s what I’ve learned: when you step back and ask yourself Why am I playing this game? the answer can be surprisingly freeing.

It reminds me of a phrase I heard recently: You don’t want to climb the ladder of success only to realize it’s leaning against the wrong wall. And that’s what this image drives home for me. It’s a reminder to check in with ourselves. Are we playing games that align with what we value, or are we chasing after prizes that won’t actually mean anything in the end?

Maybe society says you should climb the corporate ladder. But if you don’t actually enjoy the view from the top, why climb it? Maybe society values certain “prizes.” But if they’re silly to you, why chase them?

So here’s my challenge for you (and for me): Stop playing society’s games. Start playing your own. Take a moment to step back and ask yourself: What game am I playing? Is it silly or is it meaningful? And if it’s the former, how can you shift to one that actually brings you peace, joy, and growth?

Because life’s too short to chase the wrong prizes.

Edge Thought of the Week

“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” – Steve Jobs

What’s one “silly game” you can let go of? And what “natural game” are you ready to play?

Until next time,

Laura