One of my favorite childhood memories was waking up to the smell of breakfast on a Sunday morning and the sound of “wah! wahoo! yippee!” on the TV as my dad and older brother played Super Mario 64 in the living room.

I would “play” too, but only the levels my brother had already beaten. I had my own save file, of course, but with much fewer stars and much more work left to do to save the Mushroom Kingdom’s Princess Peach. No matter, I would get there one day!

That was the first of many life lessons I would learn from playing Super Mario games: With enough perseverance and determination, I could accomplish anything, especially if it was something my brother could do.

Eventually, I went on to beat Super Mario 64, along with most other major Mario titles (for TV consoles). Looking back, I may owe quite a bit to that lovable plumber for teaching me essential skills and lessons that have served me well throughout my life.

So, to celebrate Mario Day on March 10 (aka MAR10 Day), I’m sharing the top 10 life lessons I’ve learned from playing Super Mario games. Let’s-a-go!

1. How to Think Outside the Box

Anyone who’s played a Mario game knows that it takes a little creative problem-solving to beat the game, especially if you’re a completionist. Whether you’re searching for hidden bonus stages or hunting for the eight red coins, you have to think outside the box (or sometimes…inside the ? box) to accomplish your goals.

2. The Spirit of Friendly Competition

If you’ve ever played a multiplayer Mario game with a sibling, you’ve probably felt the burning desire to 1-Up them. (OK, you’ve likely felt that outside of video games, but let’s stick to the script here.) Mario Kart? RED SHELL. Mario Party? STEAL STARS. Super Smash Bros.? ATTACK. These games, more than any other activity or sport, nurtured my competitive spirit and fueled my drive to win.

3. The Love of Adventure

Mario games are more than just video games; they’re adventures. Peeling open that packaging and popping in a new game means the thrill of a new challenge and the beauty of a new world. Is there a more whimsical game than Super Mario Galaxy and its fantastic orchestral score? Or a more vibrant, picturesque (sans goop) land than the tropical Isle Delfino in Super Mario Sunshine? Mario games were – and are to this day – my creative escape, and no doubt inspired my love of adventure.

4. The Importance of Hard Work

There are few things quite as gratifying as beating a Mario game and watching the credits play until the last glimpse of the Nintendo logo fades into a black screen. These games take a lot of work, time and patience, so when you finally do beat Bowser and rescue Peach, you’re proud of your achievement. This sense of accomplishment is always a good reminder of the value and importance of hard work.

5. How to (Literally) Reach for the Stars

There’s nothing Mario can’t do. He sets his sights on the ultimate goal of rescuing Peach, and accomplishes short-term goals to achieve it. As the player, you literally go from one goal pole to the next, overcoming challenges and reaching for the stars. As simple as the metaphor may be, it’s a great lesson in challenging yourself, working toward your goals and realizing your potential.

6. Practice Makes Perfect

Playing Mario Kart with my dad and brother was always a frustrating experience growing up – until I had practiced enough to finally win. You don’t just wake up being good at Rainbow Road (and, for the record, I’m still terrible at racing that course). Like any new activity in life, you have to practice to be good at it, or at least better than your opponents.

7. How to Be a Good Sport

Losing Super Smash Bros. to a friend or sibling was a humbling experience as a kid. It took a lot of self-control not to pout or throw the controller when I inevitably lost. Even now, it can be irrationally maddening to lose a Mario Party game to my husband. But with each loss, you learn how to manage your temper and be a good sport.

8. How to Manage Your Time

With the clock ticking down and the pressure on, many Mario levels test your ability to get to the goal pole within a certain time frame. The key, though, is not to simply rush through without collecting any of the pertinent items. You still have to do a thorough sweep of the course and check all the boxes. It’s not just about finishing on time, but about doing it right and accomplishing the necessary tasks along the way.

9. Overcoming Obstacles

There are endless obstacles in Mario games that try to keep you from succeeding (and make you pull your hair out). Learning how to deal with them or navigate around them becomes the key to beating any game. As in life, it requires patience and perseverance – and sometimes, a little help from your friends.

10. If At First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again

*Caution for my fellow gamers: Minor spoilers ahead*

This is the mantra of every Mario level, but perhaps none more so than the final, most difficult level of Super Mario Odyssey. The “Long Journey’s End” is exactly as its name implies, although the kicker is that there are no checkpoints and death results in returning to the very beginning of the level. I played it for weeks without success, but each time, I learned from my mistakes and restarted. Eventually, I beat the level and the game, leaving us with one of Mario’s most powerful life lessons: Never give up.

Now, as Mario would say, thank you so much for reading my blog 🙂

P.S., here’s a bonus video of Charles Martinet – the voice of Mario, Luigi and many other Super Mario characters – autographing a print for me at Pop Con in 2016. Sound on!

Leave a comment