Blooming Where You're Planted

As I celebrated a milestone birthday, I made a promise to myself: find more JOY in the everyday.

I began weaving connection into my routine—nurturing friendships, making new ones, and creating reasons to gather. When I thought about the moments that brought me the most happiness, they all had one thing in common: laughter around a table. Games have a way of dissolving awkwardness and turning strangers into friends.

For the past fifteen years, I’ve watched my mom build an incredible community through Mahjong. She first taught me at her kitchen table, and we later played online across the miles. Through shared stories, quality time, and the rhythmic call of tiles, I saw how powerful this simple game could be.

It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with it, too. The click of the tiles. The blend of luck and strategy. The connections formed hand after hand. And yes… the tile addiction is real.

Come find your joy!

• Jen Groves