another nice game vs Monarch 1.0 .....

I've been playing chess almost every day for the past 13 years. Chess is not just a game for me; it's a mirror that reflects my mental state. When I'm feeling good, my rating can reach 1600 or even higher. But when I'm not in the right mental space, my performance drops significantly, sometimes to a 1350 level.

Recently, I've been going through some ups and downs. I've been dealing with the effects of coming off THC, which has impacted my sleep and overall mental clarity. On good days, I can play strong games, like the one I played against the Monarch 1.0 bot, where my performance-rating was around 2300 as you saw in my last blog-post. But there are days when my mind isn't as sharp, thets when i am depressed, and it shows in my chess games.

To help myself feel better, I've been staying active, hiking up a hill near my home almost every day. This physical activity, combined with the mental challenge of chess, is helping me slowly regain my clarity. I also find that playing other games like PES10 brings back positive memories from my childhood, which lifts my mood.

Overall, I've realized that taking care of my mental health is just as important as practicing my chess skills. The two are deeply connected, and as I continue this journey, I hope to find more balance and consistency in both my mental well-being and my chess performance.