In his 2022 year in review, the humorist Dave Barry wrote:
Millions of Americans on social media realized — it took them a while, but they finally got there — that nobody wants to know how they did on “Wordle.”
So, let’s just say I knew better, but I went ahead and flashed my Wordle stats at my hairdresser, who then flashed me her Wordle stats, which put my Wordle stats to shame. Aside from a year-long streak, she solves most of the puzzles in three words.
My genius stylist then revealed something I did not know about Wordle streaks. According to Lisa, if you forget to play one day, maybe you actually go outside and (dare I say it) have fun … your streak is gone. Her streak was over 300 days, and she said it would have been more, but she missed a day when she was on vacation.
All that time, sweating over my streak, naively assuming the outcome was binary. Win or lose! The pressure was on, and I was ready to perform with excellence.
But now I know there’s a loyalty clause. Being good is not good enough. Let’s just call it Workle because it’s damn near the same thing.
I went through the stages of grief but emerged stronger for the experience. It’s like a cord has been cut, and I feel free.
Life is different now that I know you can lose without losing. I wish someone had told me this, oh, I don’t know, 40 years ago?
Anyway, that’s a life lesson that needs to come with me to the golf course, where I lost my temper this week. Not only dropped the f-bomb but also the mf-bomb. My profanity was not directed at anyone else, only my charming self, but still, I’m not proud.
I’ve decided to work harder at staying joyful and appreciating pleasant companionship on the course, as well as the unique challenges of the game. It’s not about the score. I repeat. It’s not about the score.
While I usually don’t play on Fridays, due to all the people “working from home,” I booked a tee time so I could practice being peaceful. Lo and behold, I had a better score. Of course, there’s a connection, but now I need to see if I can stay happy when the golf gods fight back.
So much to learn! Become a little less obsessive. Enjoy the game, whatever is is. Accept you can lose without losing.
Just another lesson at the intersection of Wordle and life.
Workle – you need to quickly copyright that.
There’s probably a whole new game in there somewhere.
Hi, Donna – These are great thoughts on the intersection of Wordle and Life (as well as Golf and Life). I don’t golf, but my husband and I play Wordle together every morning over breakfast. We never pay attention to our score past that single day. But I love the routine — and that it helps pull him in to my nerdy word world!
Not paying attention to your score past that single day? How normal! Sadly, I’m not there yet.
Thank goodness (most) people have stopped posting their Wordle scores. My husband and I share with each other but that’s it. And, not only do I forget my scores after a few hours… I forget the word.
I’m happy to learn there are less compulsive people out there. Enjoy!
I have had Wordle streaks reset when I update my iPad. Very annoying.
Even my beloved Headspace has “Stats” and a “run streak” that counts up if you meditate daily. And yet Andy (founder of Headspace and former monk) says that meditation isn’t a competition. I sent them an email about that, telling them that I thought it disingenuous to say that meditation isn’t a competition and then to have run streaks and stats. I never got an answer but they then put in a “finish” button that you can hit and avoid seeing your minutes meditated since you first signed up and what your current run streak is.
Still find it annoying though.
So, now I’m prepared for my streak getting reset with a system update. Thank you for that.
As for your note to Andy … it sounds exactly like something I’d do. It’s a curse. I wrote the New York Times puzzle people about Letter Boxed. They say the goal is to do it in under five words. I think there should be some sort of electronic recognition if you do it in two. Alas, I also did not get an answer.
Fortunately, I’m not in any way competitive – not even with myself, and I never got into Wordle (or golf come to that) but I do understand how both can get you in their grip. My only long-standing habit is listening to a sleep story every night in bed as I drift off to sleep. It’s been broken a few times by technology or wifi glitches, but I ain’t counting, so it’s OK 🙂
I am p****d off because just when my Twitter feed stopped being full of people’s Wordle’s scores, Elon Musk bought it and the results have been messed up by all his firings & tinkerings.
I envy those of you who can get by without being competitive.
I’m glad people stopped filling your feed with Wordle scores, but it seems Elan is still in the mix. Perhaps you can do something about that?
Regarding posting your score on Facebook. Not only do people NOT want to know your Wordle score, they also don’t want to know what you had for lunch (let alone a picture of it), how your diet is going, your grandchild’s birthday, a repost of a five year old memory, your thoughts on the sitting president, …..etc., etc., etc.
I am stunned, just in general, at people’s self absorption. I suppose we have always been so, but now it’s so much easier to force our every thought on the world, and not just the gang at the water cooler.
Okay, I’ll now leave quietly.
I hear you. I closed my Facebook account a few years ago. Don’t miss it. I also closed LinkedIn, which was going in the same direction.
I share Wordle results with my two grown kids everyday, or most days. We then send a victory dance image or loser image to each other depending on how we did that day. It’s a little fun thing that keeps us connected on a daily basis.
That seems like a nice way to enjoy the game without becoming obsessive.