A great way to get social while also giving your mind a workout is with a game of Mah Jongg.
Mah Jongg is a tile-based game of skill that’s commonly played with four players and is similar to rummy. The goal is to be the first person to declare “Mah Jongg” and win by creating a hand that matches the scorecard’s hand. St. Paul resident Susan Gillmer, the 75-year-old organizer of the Metro Mah Jongg group, spoke with thrive. about why playing the game is great for older adults and how to get involved.
thrive.: What got you into Mah Jongg?
Susan Gillmer: I have always loved all things Asian even though I’m not of Asian heritage. I visited China in 1982 and again in 2002. I loved the sound of the tiles clattering on the tables and wanted to learn. In 2002, I played one game with a group of Chinese people who did not speak English. A man stood behind me and pointed at what tile I should play. I had no idea what I was doing or saying, but thoroughly enjoyed myself anyway. Since I learned, I have played at least three times each week.
thrive.: What do you think makes it appealing to older adults?
SG: It’s important to exercise the brain. Mah Jongg is really good at that. It takes some critical thinking and because new cards are added each year, there are always new things to learn. And it’s a social game.
thrive.: How can others get involved?
SG: We meet a couple of times a week at locations in St. Paul. We are happy to have people who have never played before. They can find our meeting times at the MeetUp.com group, Metro Mah Jongg.