Monday, September 10, 2018, 10:40am
It's been about 5 weeks since I played a video game. Funny, huh? And you didn't even know I was a gamer, right? LOL. My game of preference, #GrandTheftAutoV (on my #PS4), and specifically it's #MotorWars I & III missions in adversary mode, were near mainstays in my daily routine. And as agro and digitally violent as these things might appear, they actually gave a me a sense of calm, almost like I was meditating, while players on the opposing team(s) would try to obliterate me. Some, who were on my team and had invested in a headset, would even offer help in coordinating a group strategy, while others, mostly on the other team, might talk (major) sh*t and tempt me to block them.
So why stop? Well...it's actually in an attempt to recapture my drumming ability. I know, puzzling, right? Let me explain. I have been playing video games for a little over 10 years, and have been enjoying this little psychological rush/glutton filled waste of time. But in 2011, I started to have problems (again) while playing drums, particularly in my left thumb and wrist. I went to specialist after specialist, orthopedic doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, everything! Nothing cured it. So I concentrated on my acting career. But I hadn't equated the loss of drumming dexterity to my playing video games until only recently, when I by chance came across an article (or two) on hand/finger problems caused by it.
Flashback to 1983 when I had a similar occurrence of what seemed to be tendonitis/carpal tunnel syndrome. I tried everything until I ran out of money. Thinking back, one thing was a constant, I had become psychologically hooked on playing #MsPacman at a nearby pizza joint. It may or may not have had any bearing on my catastrophic (and momentary/roughly two years) end to my drumming career, but one thing is for sure, I stopped playing Ms. Pacman, and about a year later I could play drums again.
So, like I did in the 80s, it couldn't hurt to STOP gaming and see if it has a miraculous effect. I mean, what's the worst that could happen. :-) Thanks for reading.
Oh, and one more thing: it looks like SNOW has another big gig coming. So stay tuned...
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