LIFE ACROSS 64 SQUARES

Women are powerful and men are essential. This is core to chess. Interestingly, the chess board with 64 black and white squares is a remarkable representation of life. It is not only fun to play but can also teach important self-help lessons without you even trying to learn them. The intensive moments of brain stretching takes the grey matter for a stroll around the yard while teaching some hard truths of life in an easy way.
Focus on Your Target
No, I am not talking about the boy/girl you make flirty gestures at in class. Rather, I am talking about your aim in life. In chess, the target is getting your adversary into checkmate. Often players find themselves busy with grabbing pawns or going after a piece and missing the whole point. Likewise, in life, it is easy to get sidetracked from the real goal. The world will delude you every now and then but if you can keep distractions at bay and work towards what is genuinely important, you can reach closer to your goal with every step.
Plan Ahead but Stay Flexible
Life puts us in complicated situations. You might be relying on your friend to pay your lunch bill but he might be looking up to your rather thin wallet. Hence, think of an alternative beforehand because only flexibility can save you from the holes in your plan. Similarly, you cannot think too sure or too far ahead in chess. You have to stay alert to what the other person throws at you. Nonetheless, it is wise to have a plan.
Start Small
During a chess game, you often cannot make grand moves and quick rises. Sometimes you need to just think ahead and take small steps at a time. Beyond the chess board, you will come across many chances to do little at a time that will serve you a bit toward a long-term goal of yours. You can get that assignment done now, or you can sit back and stare at pictures of crows in Japan. You can whine about being too busy or you can start clearing the mess in your room. Certainly, picking up small gains now will bring weight to your basket of accomplishments in the long run.
Choose Wisely
A bad move is an opportunity that you painfully let go of. Every time you make a not-so-careful choice you lose time, position and confidence. Just like when you chase someone out of your league, you face an opportunity loss by letting go of 'options' within your reach. So, think before you leap or chase. Great chess players are very cautious about making their moves. A calculated risk is a tested strategy in chess and it helps one make better choices with lesser pitfalls.
Have Patience
Most chess players learn this lesson early in life. When you play chess, you must concentrate on the game and set your mind on the outcome. If you play well for two hours and then let your mind wander and make a poor move, you will probably lose. Similarly, patience is also a great virtue in real life. It is fine if you are always baking cakes that smell of eggs. It is also fine if you are trying to grow your beard since the last six months but have had no results till now. Be patient because there is no shortcut to success. Try till you reach perfection. Cheers.