The following article was sent to North Renfrew Times for publication on 31 March 2017 – under the column of ” Letter To Editor “. Unfortunately it did not get published by the NRT – though I had separately circulated it all my bridge colleagues in Deep River, Pembroke, Petawawa and in Toronto too. Got good response from many.
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22 March 2017
One Way to beat Winter blues ? Bridge Card Playing
Do you experience the “blues” or low mood during the winter months?
In our land of many seasons , during our harsh winter months many outdoor team/group activities are suddenly terminated at the onset of winter. Though some people do take up winter sports and enjoy these activities.
However, there are many people who either ” hibernate ” indoors with minimal social activities ( resulting in social isolation ) or move out to sunny places south – specially to Florida. The winter sports are usually not quite suitable for elderly/senior people.
Again as the winter is slowly moving out, many people are gearing up for outdoor activities and winter sports do come to a halt.
However there is one activity which remains constant during all of our seasons – including during winter.
This activity is Bridge Card playing . It’s a sport which requires a lot of social interaction and this relation with community members remain steady all year round. There is no automatic disruption in playing due to seasonal changes. The local bridge club (s) in the area remain active all year round .
This allows those playing bridge to come out of social isolation during winter and interact with many community members in a relaxed but otherwise challenging activity. It does help to beat Winter blues.
By the way, playing Bridge is termed as participating in a sport activity . In June 1995, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) admitted the World Bridge Federation (WBF) as ‘part of the Olympic Movement’, awarding it the status of a ‘Recognized Sport Organization’.
This recognition was accorded under Rule 4 of the Olympic Charter.
However so far, Bridge has reached the same level as Golf, Rugby, Squash, Karate etc. which, though recognized as sports, are not yet admitted into the Olympic Games.
Bridge is one of the most popular card games in the world, so there must be some FUN to it!
Those who play bridge will tell you that :
- · Bridge requires strategic game play – which keeps memory active, the brain alert, and the body healthier.
- Bridge enhances social life and nurtures partnerships ”“ keys to healthy aging.
- Bridge beats Boredom.
- One can with a few friends at home, or via a club or tournament or play it online.
- Bridge requires logic – mathematics and counting – which exercise the brain.
- Bridge requires concentration and while you are playing your brain is kept active and stimulated.
- Bridge has such a positive effect on the longevity and quality of life of Seniors.
The bridge makes it possible for the players to relate as well as to communicate with local community members on a regular basis. Friendships are born and developed for life time.
When playing on-line on computer the players are associated with diverse groups of people from all continents – from rich and poor countries and that makes one realize how all human beings have common instincts, intellect and gracefulness.
Bridge is more complicated than other card games, and beginners are sometimes discouraged by this. Relax!
Bridge is by far the greatest card game of all, and it can provide immense challenge and enjoyment for the rest of your life.
Bridge is a partnership game requiring four players. Each player sits opposite his partner at a card table (in this age of computers the concept could be a simulated).
Bridge is played with a standard deck of 52 playing cards. One of the players deals all of the cards, 13 to each player, in clockwise rotation, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer.
Here is the gem :
Has anyone ever heard of or read about how playing cards match up with our calendar?
The numbers and values in a deck of cards are very similar to the weeks and months of a modern calendar. Is this just a coincidence, or was this relationship intended? A complete deck of playing cards contains four suits, two primary colors, and thirteen values ranging from the Ace to the King. Usually, it contains two Jokers.
There are 52 weeks in the year and 52 playing cards…
There are 13 weeks in each season and there are also 13 cards in each suit.
There are 4 seasons and 4 suits.
There are 12 months of the year and 12 Court cards (those which have faces).
The Red cards represent the Day, the Black cards the Night.
If you let the Jacks = 11, the Queens = 12, and the Kings = 13, then add up all the sums of 1 + 2 + 3 + ”¦to 13 = 91 Multiply this by 4, for the 4 suits; 91 x 4 = 364 then add 1 that is the Joker and you will arrive at the number of days in the year?
Is that mere coincidence? or a greater intelligence…
Note: Of interest is the sum of the letters in all the names of the cards; eg : add up the letters in “one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, Jack, Queen, King” = 52 !
The Spades indicate ploughing/ working, Hearts indicate Love thy crops, Clubs indicate flourishing/ growth, and Diamonds indicate reaping/ wealth….
Also, in some card games 2 Jokers are used… Indicating Leap year….
It seems that there is a deeper philosophy than just a game…
If you have been discouraged or frightened or nervous to play Bridge so far and now you know rudiments about the Bridge Card playing and its social/ mental/ health benefits as well as coincidental connection to our calendar, I hope that you will take initiative to come out and play bridge . There are people in the community who will help you to learn and master the conventions and techniques and there are groups who play bridge on a regular basis – no matter what the weather or season.
Please note that the local bridge activities are advertised in the local newspaper, at the local library and sometimes by flyers around town.
So join the fun and bring twinkle in your eyes during dark days of winter or hot sunny days of summer.
Pravin Shah
65 Rutherford Av.
Deep River, ON
K0J 1P0 Phone: 613-584-4469