Last night.
I found out there’s a chess club in my city. They meet every Tuesday night in the Whole Foods cafe.
I showed up with my chess set and clock to a bunch of old men sitting and playing casual games.
For some reason, I was nervous on my way.
Not that I would get my ass beat (in chess). Something about hopping into a new community of people.
I guess at 27, I’m still giddy about making new friends.
They were some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. The youngest guy (he was in his forties) welcomed me to his board for my first game.
I played two gentlemen, two games each. I absolutely destroyed them.
We played for two hours until the grocery store closed. I told them about my first tournament coming up this month and they were super supportive…as if we’ve been teammates for years.
Needless to say, the nerves were gone.
Things are never as bad as the possibilities our minds make up.
I’ll see them next Tuesday.