PacMan teaches life lessons

I’ll admit it – I play Pac-Man. I enjoy controlling the little yellow face as he eats the dots and, occasionally, the mean ghosts. It’s not only the satisfaction of earning enough points to gain another life that keeps me hooked – there are many lessons learned from a single game of Pac-Man that have helped me throughout my life. In the wake of the Wii and PlayStation 3, it is important for us to remember what we have learned from one of the games that began the fad.

1. If you think you can beat a level or earn a certain amount of points then by all means, go for it. If you think you can reach a certain position in life or attain a goal, then with enough perseverance you will achieve what you want; strive for what you want.

2. That being said, do not be greedy. If you try to gain too many points or eat too many ghosts, chances are that you will be eaten. If you try to take too much in life, then you will wind up with nothing. It is important to be able to reach a point where you are happy with what you have – and do not have.

3. In this videogame, you will never have a perfect game, but you will have games that you reach your all-time highest score. You have many amazing traits, but remember that you also have weaknesses. If you learn to appreciate that you will never be perfect, you will be much happier.

4. Those high scores are impossible to reach. I play Pac- Man to pass the time, but the people on those score boards must live for the game. Do not compare yourself to others - just do your best and do not worry about what other people think of you.

5. Eat your fruits and vegetables.

6. Do not try to eat a flashing blue ghost to gain points if you are not willing to risk a life. Do not risk yourself unless you are willing to live with the consequences. Sometimes situations will wind up in your favor; sometimes they will not. If you cannot live with an outcome, whether it is a loss or a profit, a new enemy or a friend, a detention or a free weekend, then it is not worth it.

7. It may seem like a bad game could ruin your day, however when you walk away you will still enjoy the movie you watch that evening. Although many of your problems seem horrible now, when you look back at them most of them will seem insignificant. Nothing is as bad as it seems. Ms. Pac-Man will still love you at the end of the day.