Dad would get brother and I hooked on a genre of computer games called adventure games. He was one who enjoyed a solving a good puzzle, and it was his way of passing on the thrill to his boys; and pass on, he did.
I’ve since grown out of playing computer games, opting instead to apply that urge to figure out or solve something with slightly more tangible, real life puzzles – hence my foray into computer programming, and the inclination with making, fixing, tweaking and tinkering with things.
The past week has been particularly satisfying in that respect. Among the things I had the pleasure of conquering was a flat car battery, a leakly toilet, a duplicated key that was too thick to fit through the keyhole. Oh, we also brought our beast of an SOA system online in production for the very first time. It’s now powering one of the biggest online grocery stores in Australia.
There’s something about being able to approach difficulties in life as puzzles to be solved and enjoyed. For one, it removes a lot of the stress and emotional fog that gets in the way of approaching and unraveling the solution; like when you’re trying to undo a difficult knot. Secondly, it takes the edge off failing, because when you’re working with a puzzle, you just try and try again.
Dad probably thought it was a good way for his kids to occupy their spare time, not realizing how profound an impression he was making in our little psyches.
I guess I have dad to thank for a good week.