Back (Always) in the Grind

SCAD's (The Savannah College of Art & Design) winter break began Nov 17, that's incredibly fast for a university to begin its winter break. 

It was a long time to get here, a 4 hour bus ride to Atlanta, followed by a 14 hour flight over the polar ice caps to Incheon, then a 5 hr flight to Bangkok.

So here I am.

With the Thailand Team Championship starting tomorrow. 

I won't lie, I'm a little bit scared, since I haven't really practiced for over 4 months.

Going to an arts school and playing chess is a little strange, since they are such distinct activities. 

At SCAD, I was concerned with whether my drawing had a realistic qualities and whether I had used the MLA citation format properly. 

Now, my priorities are fixing the holes in my black repertoire vs 1.d4.

I will admit, my interest in the game waned somewhat. The weekly meetings at the local Savannah chess club (which I am eternally grateful for) were great to maintain my OTB (over the board) strength, but still, playing 5 minute blitz can't compare to playing competitively in rated tournaments.

But I shouldn't be scared. I should be excited, excited for the fact that I will get to indulge in a mentally stimulating, unprecedentedly complex board game.
No, my ego has been destroyed and rebuilt too many times for me to worry about losing to somebody born in 2000-something, there are bigger things in life to worry about.

I initially saw this return to the game as going 'back to the grind', but then I thought, aren't we always in the grind? 

Once we realize that, we can be free from the programming of 'working' and 'relaxing'. 

There is no such thing.

Life is a perpetual grind. 

Lets go.