For Anyone Frustrated With Chess And Considering Quitting

Hello all. I've seen a few topics about players being so frustrated about how badly they play chess that they are either quitting or thinking about quitting. Instead of saying "don't quit" or "learn pattern recognition" or "try this video", I want to take a different approach. Let's look at the problem from a different (and respectful) perspective. Is it worth your mental health? The definition of insanity is "extreme folly, irrationality, or the colloquialism of repeating the same action while expecting different results". Let's say you play 50 games against the same opponent, and each game you say to yourself "I've got them this time!" and once again they just pull some crazy move out of their ass, and that changes the whole dynamic of the game, and once again, they win. And every time they win, your self-esteem goes into the trash, or worse. Is it really worth it to keep playing chess against them? Or are you literally exercising the definition of insanity? Or maybe you can beat low-level bots but every time you face a human opponent, you are defeated. Do you continue to beat your head against the wall? Or do you finally realize that not everyone is suited for every game or activity? If chess, (or any other game or activity) does not give you enjoyment, but rather it makes you feel bad, then maybe it's time to cut your losses and move on to a different game or activity. AND THIS IS OK. There is no shame in admitting "this is not for me, I'm all set, time to move on". Not every person is cut out to play every game, or solve every puzzle, or play every sport. There's an old saying "Not every kid gets to be an astronaut". And there is nothing wrong with that. Instead of frustrating yourself with an activiry that brings you no enjoyment, take the time to try new things, and you will have a much better chance of finding your talent and preserving your mental health. Need some suggestions? 1. Volunteer at a hospital or a homeless shelter. Nothing will make you change your perspective about how "bad your life is" quicker than helping out those who are much less fortunate than you. Spend even one day helping out in a homeless shelter and you will quickly realize just how good your life really is. 2. Adopt a cat. There are dozens of homeless cats in your area that need a good home. Taking care of a cat and receiving back their unconditional love and companionship will definitely lift your spirits. 3. Get an e-book and take advantage of e-book sales and subscriptions. Kindle Unlimited is relatively inexpensive and you'll find a ton of books to read. 4. Get some exercise! Even if it's just a 30 minute walk, exercise will release "feel good" chemicals in your brain. 5. Quit vaping if you vape. There is a known link between vaping and elevated anxiety levels. Take your vape money and buy cat food for your new cat instead. The bottom line my friend is this: I stopped playing chess because it was not fun. To me, it was rage bait and depression fuel. This does NOT mean that chess is a "lousy game" or that other chess players are bad people. Not in the least. I harbor NO ill will towards anyone who has ever played me at chess. Chess is just simply a game that is beyond my mental ability to play effectively, and it was affecting my morale and my mental health. So I moved on. No regrets, no hard feelings. Whatever your decision may be my friend, I wish you and everyone the absolute best in all that you pursue.

Also I apologize if my post appears as one giant paragraph, I did use spaces to break up my post but I don't think it worked :-)

this is honestly good advice

Very good advice!

I personally try looking for possible changes in the mindset first and only then suggesting others to think about wheter they should keep playing chess or not.