Word Games Provide Comfort During Family Crisis

La Plata, MD — A local resident shares their experience of coping with a family medical emergency over the past few weeks. The report describes endless hours spent in hospital waiting rooms and the emotional toll of uncertain outcomes.

Amid this difficult period, the author found solace in word games, namely the popular online game Spelling Bee. As appetite waned and distractions became scarce, the need for engagement led them back to a lifelong love of language and puzzles.

Reflecting on past experiences, the writer recalls childhood fondness for word searches and classroom games, revealing how these activities offered comfort and community. In college, solving crosswords in the student paper became a cherished daily ritual.

In 2021, the introduction of Wordle became a competitive outlet among coworkers, fostering camaraderie despite changing job roles. Daily score check-ins persisted even after they moved on from those positions.

Recently, the author subscribed to Games from the New York Times and discovered Spelling Bee. This game invites players to create words from seven letters, emphasizing a specific central letter in each word. Achieving the highest rank, “Genius,” marked a significant personal victory, a moment reached only during a challenging time of waiting for a loved one’s surgery.

Though the author struggled to repeat that success in the following week, the experience provided a much-needed distraction. Their journey highlights the power of games in providing comfort during times of distress.

“I hope to never see — nor remember — these difficult, uninterrupted hours again,” the author remarked, revealing a glimmer of hope for brighter days ahead.