Mahjong: The Game I Didn’t Know I Needed

I never really expected Mahjong to become part of my life.

Honestly, when I first heard about it, I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. There were tiles everywhere, rules to learn, and what seemed like a million things to remember. It felt like total chaos.

And then, somewhere along the way, it clicked.

Now? I may or may not be a little obsessed, but not as obsessed as others. I still don't own a set of my own.

My introduction to Mahjong came from our friend Shelley and my mom. At first, I was completely overwhelmed. There was so much to learn, and I wasn't sure I'd ever really understand what was happening around that table.

But once I started figuring it out, something changed.

I got it.

And I was hooked.

There’s Something Satisfying About the Chaos

One of the things I love most about Mahjong is the challenge — and it starts almost immediately with the Charleston.

If you don't play Mahjong, the Charleston is the beginning of the game when everyone passes tiles around the table, trying to get rid of tiles they don't want and hopefully end up with tiles that will help build a winning hand.

Of course, it doesn't always work out that way.

You don't necessarily get the tiles you want or the ones you were hoping for. So you have to look at what you've been given, figure out which line might work best, and then decide whether it's worth pursuing.

And even then, it may or may not work.

I actually love that part of the game.

You're constantly making decisions with imperfect information. You have a plan, but you also have to be willing to change it. You start down one path and realize another might make more sense.

And sometimes the best thing you can do is recognize that the hand you've been working toward just isn't going to happen — and move on.

Maybe that's why Mahjong feels a little like life.

You don't always get the tiles you want.

You just have to figure out what you can do with the ones you have.

A Special Connection With My Mom

Playing Mahjong with my mom has become something I really treasure.

It actually brings me back to memories of playing Spades with my Mamaw.

My Mamaw was a big game player. She loved playing cards, Yahtzee, and Bingo, and I can easily picture her sitting down at a Mahjong table. Without a doubt, I know she would have loved this game, too.

There's something about playing a game with family that stays with you.

It's not necessarily the specific hands you remember years later. It's the time together. The conversations. The laughter. The little moments around the table.

So when I'm playing Mahjong with my mom, there's a little bit of my Mamaw in those moments, too.

And I love that.

Mahjong has given my mom and me another thing to share — another reason to sit down together, laugh, talk, and enjoy each other's company.

And sometimes, that's the best part of the game.

But It’s Really About the Women

As much as I love the game itself, I think what has surprised me most is how much I love the people around the table.

It's the women.

It's the laughter.

It's the conversations.

It's the little stories that happen between hands.

It's sitting around a table with women who may have started as acquaintances and realizing that, before long, you're laughing together like you've known each other forever.

Sometimes we play open play at local restaurants, boutiques or wineries, which makes for a pretty fun evening. There's something about gathering somewhere beautiful, pulling up a chair, and spending a few hours playing, talking and laughing that feels like such a treat.

And I have to admit, I love how pretty Mahjong can be.

Walking into some of these boutiques and seeing the tables set up is part of the fun. The beautiful tiles, the colorful racks, the pretty table settings — even the Mahjong sets themselves can be so much fun to look at. Every set seems to have its own personality.

It turns something that could simply be sitting around playing a game into an experience. The tables are pretty, the settings are fun, and somehow it all makes you want to pull up a chair and stay awhile.

And that's one of the things I appreciate most about Mahjong: it creates connection.

We're not sitting around scrolling on our phones.

We're sitting around a table.

Together.

I'm Not Playing to Win

Here's something you should probably know about me: I'm not terribly competitive.

I want to have fun.

I want to learn.

I want to laugh.

I want to enjoy the people I'm with.

Sure, it's satisfying when everything comes together and you have a great hand. But I'm not sitting there plotting everyone's downfall.

For me, Mahjong is much more about the experience than the outcome.

And maybe that's another reason I've come to love it.

Getting Outside My Comfort Zone

One of the biggest things Mahjong has reminded me is that trying something new can be uncomfortable — and that's okay.

We often get comfortable in our routines. We know what we like. We know what we're good at. We know what feels familiar.

But there is something wonderful about being a beginner again.

You don't have to be good at something immediately.

You don't have to know all the rules.

You don't have to be the best.

You just have to be willing to sit down, learn something, and give it a try.

Mahjong gave me that opportunity.

And along the way, it gave me a hobby I enjoy, new friendships, more time with my mom, plenty of laughter, and a whole new appreciation for gathering around a table with good women.

Oh — and it's good for brain health, right? LOL.

So, Should You Try Mahjong?

Absolutely.

If you've ever thought about trying Mahjong but felt intimidated by all the tiles, rules and terminology, I say go for it.

Find someone who knows how to play. Take a class. Join a group. Say yes to an invitation.

You might feel completely lost at first.

I certainly did.

But you may also discover, like I did, that eventually the chaos starts to make sense.

And then you might just find yourself looking forward to the next game.

Because sometimes the things we never planned on becoming part of our lives end up being exactly what we needed.

For me, Mahjong has become more than a game.

It's a little challenge.

A lot of laughter.

A way to connect.

A reason to get out of the house.

And a reminder that it's never too late to try something new.

Now, who's ready to play?