Here’s why you might want to learn the game today.
In a May 2021 Time magazine interview, Annelise Heinz, the author of Mahjong: A Chinese Game and th
e Making of Modern American Culture, talks about how the game became a timeless hobby for an intercultural audience.
According to Heinz, who is Chinese American, “In between each round, you have a pause, where you are shuffling the tiles, or ‘washing’ the tiles. And it’s just the right amount of time to have a little bit of conversation. I think that tempo is perfect for building new relationships. When you’re in a new community or connecting across a generational divide, maybe you don’t want to have deep heart-to-heart or
can’t have one, but you can have a little bit of conversation and over time, those rhythms, especially if you’re playing with the same group of people, can build incredibly deep, long-lasting relationships.”
Mah-jongg does help us sustain our health in two important ways as we age: The friendships we develop decrease the loneliness that can cut years from our lives. And this brainy sport may help keep us sharp. According to an October 2021 report in Market Business News, studies show that mah-jongg is actually recommended to the elderly to help maintain good brain health and improve memory skills.
“Mah-jongg has the power to be both a bridge and a barrier,” Heinz told TIME in a phone interview. “I hope that we can learn from the past to also embrace the positive, wonderful possibilities of this great game that so many people love around the world, and that has brought so many people together.”Feinstein said. “When you know mah-jongg, you’re never really alone Read More: https://www.aarpethel.com/lifestyle/the-many-benefits-of-playing-mah-jongg