Small Victories

I celebrated like it was an Olympic Gold, like the Stanley Cup was going to have my name on it, like I had asked out the girl of my dreams, she had said yes, and with no one looking I was finally able to come out from behind the ‘Cool’ and drop down a ‘YES!!!’. Fist pumping, Usain Bolt pointing, Michael Jackson kicking, throwing the arms to the heavens, giving it a Teemu Selanne 76-goal gun-down-the-glove shot, even a little play the drums slash air guitar routine; I did it all, Wii controller in hand.


I beat 'Supermario Bros. Wii' and I was stoked about it. I Am stoked about it. I’m not a gamer, at all. I play casually, in a social environment, and tend to be only as good as I need to be to survive the occasion. In the gaming world I’m the guy who has a drink with dinner, but is willing to party when the time comes and the situation calls. And being that I don’t have the Gamer Alcoholic tendencies of your usual virtual victor, it was rare to routinely find myself helping Mario, on my own, for hours at a time. I wasn’t quite drinking alone in the dark on a Tuesday, but I mean it’s Wii, I’m 26, there’s something mildly embarrassing about it.



But it’s not just completing the game and telling virtual Bowser to suck it, it’s all about the struggle. Tough levels required perseverance, seventy plus courses needed commitment, there were challenges that called for finesse, obstacles that asked for elegance, and throughout the entire battle, an unwavering desire to win. I didn’t just send the game a beat down, I exposed great character, and all it took was a video game. And there’s nothing wrong with that. You have to enjoy the little things. There are great vehicles for triumph out there, and plenty of heroic moments to strive for, but I’m not going to ignore those little extras that wait for me around every corner. What about ‘Do Great Always’? Sounds like a fun little plan. So whether it’s hitting the garbage can from across the room, scoring an OTGWG at 11:30 at night in front of a crowd of 2 during a Men’s League playoff match, or picking the winner of Survivor in a fantasy pool, I’m all about the small victories.

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It’s 2am, I’m drained, awkwardly sweaty, and unaware of anything other than the last level. I had chipped away at the map for weeks, and as I slowly pieced together the creation I was like an artist working at his masterpiece. And it was fun! 'Supermario Bros. Wii' is a tribute to the staple of the Nintendo Console. It’s a throwback to the classic two dimensional game that introduced Mario to my world nearly two decades ago. The world slept and with a controller I conducted my way closer to the celebration. When it finally happened, I let it sink in for only a second before dancing around in a flurry of silent shouts. You just drink it in, and let that feeling of success do its thing. And I told everyone about it, not just the gamers or the people who understand that I’m a little different, but everyone. I will add it to my list like any other Jack Webb Triumph, so move over Motorcycle License, make room Engineering Degree, enjoy the company Eiffel Tower kiss, because 'Supermario Bros. Wii' has been concurred. I also just finished another post for my blog; Booyakasha!