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ruising through the streets of Northeast Ohio, sitting in the back seat of my parents' vehicle as a child, I can distinctly remember the smooth, soothing voice of Casey Kasem signing off the famous American Top 40 with, "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars," as he closed out another set of the most popular songs of the early '80s and '90s. Each countdown felt like a journey through the mind of all Americans, reflecting the collective heartbeat of a nation through the music that defined our shared experience of life.
A Deep Introspective: Bringing Order in the Chaos
Society has likely been ranking everything since the beginning—whether it’s MTV’s Top Twenty Countdown, X’s persistent top Trending topics, The Dice Tower's annual top 100 board games, or even God's top Ten Commandments that he gave to Moses and Israel. Humanity has been infatuated with how things stack up against each other and what sits atop that list. These rankings, whether sacred or secular, have always given us a sense of order, connection, and understanding in a world constantly in flux.
Ranking the Inconsequential to Establish Meaning
There is a profound sense of calm and clarity that emerges during the most chaotic times of life, revealing the illusion of darkness. Finding that order not only provides a sense of purpose but also offers an opportunity to reflect on who you are at your core. Meticulously ordering aspects of life that may otherwise seem insignificant has been a method I’ve used to create structure and gain a deeper understanding of myself in this world that feels unsettled. This has allowed me to navigate uncertainty, transforming chaos into a path of self-discovery.
While ranking my favorite Saturday morning cartoons might lead to some deep psychoanalysis of why I still know the intro of DuckTales by heart, now as a father, I do it to pass on to my children an understanding of who I am, where they come from, and to instill self-awareness in them. It’s a reminder that every detail, no matter how small, contributes to the larger picture of who we are and how true order can bring about peace in the middle of the storm.
Chaos is merely order waiting to be deciphered. [José Saramago]
Jordan's Top Ten Board Games of All-time:
- Near and Far - Designed by Ryan Laukat
- Everdell - Designed by James A. Wilson
- Star Wars: Rebellion - Designed by Corey Konieczka
- Scythe - Designed by Jamey Stegmaier
- Risk 2210 A.D. - Designed by Rob Daviau & Craig Van Ness
- Islebound - Designed by Ryan Laukat
- Architects of the West Kingdom - Designed by Sam Macdonald & Shem Phillips
- Heat: Pedal to the Metal - Designed by Asger Granerud & Daniel Pedersen
- Roam - Designed by Ryan Laukat
- The Castles of Burgundy - Designed by Stefan Feld
Challenge:
- Evaluate and write down areas of your life that you rank. Do you find yourself subconsciously or unintentionally ranking things in your life?
