How has playing chess changed your life: Is it helpful or has it hurt you

playing chess has Helped me greatly.  It has generated a greater sense of focus in me not only over the board but in other areas of my life.  Because I have to concentrate not only what I'm doing but what My oponent is doing in the game, I am learning to transfer that same attitude to my daily life.  Life is all about choices: some are good and some are very bad, and both with their respective cosequences. 

So, I would like to here from anyone out there who can share with us how chess has had an impact on their life in some postive or negative way.  I look forward to reading them.   Thank you,

Gary O. AKA vagabond2312

Ive realized after i got into again a couple of weeks back that i take a lot of problems and will just sit and stare at them like i would a chess board, thinking of all the possiblies and never too quick to come up with an answer.

I've been divorced three times and each time the black queen has been cited as co-respondant!

I see unklecyril is in fine form tonight.  Chess has only been a wonderful addtion to my life, taking nothing away.  Regardless what anyone around me might think.

Sleepless nights.

And heavy mornings.........where's the coffee!

I especially like my new love - chess.com... where i check out people's profiles and play over any of their games which end in less than 20 moves. God! some blunders are even worse than mine!

Still, it's only a game...isn't it...ISN'T IT!!!

I find myself doing chess instead of schoolwork sometimes.  But overall its a positive

lol, that is too funny! :)

yes sir it is- or is it?

I would like to add another way Chess has made my life better.  It is directly related to chess.com.  This site has made it possible for me to play and interact with people from the farthest reaches of the World.  Whether they be from Afgahnastan, Russia, or here in the U.S, they all enjoy this game just as much as me.  It is this common enjoyment that we share that allows me to recognize that Half way Around the world while wars rage on in the name of idelogy and greed, we the common folk can get along just fine. this gives me pease knowing that no matter what our government may do to us or who they say we are at war with I know that there are normal people out there beyond the veil of  the TV propaganda we are fed each day!

Three marriages,does that tell you anything!

After picking up chess roughly 8 months ago, I've found that studying chess in my free time has helped a lot academically as well; a sort of "mental exercise", if you will.

It improves my focus, concentration, and how sharp my mind is. It is a great mental exercises as has been mentioned before.

It's all good.  How can it hurt you?

Chess is a great game.  Chess.com is a great site with great members.

The only negative I ever hear is that "I play chess when I should be..."

That's a discipline issue, not a chess issue.

If you ask me its good. If you ask my wife its my mistress she wants to kill.

Qinshi,

you shouldn't let your wife know that you have a mistress

chess is my mistress. I love her...

It's been fun playing chess-what could be wrong with that!

no wonder your wife's mad