Years ago, a group of friends and I set out on a bicycle trip. On the trainride towards the Lake Balaton, I brainstormed a bunch of questions to ask my friends. I wrote these questions on small slips of paper, and the topics we each drew led to great conversations in the evenings. We reminisced, told stories, shared our joys and difficulties. Later, I reviewed the questions and, after grouping them by topic, printed them on homemade cards of colored construction paper. I went on to play with these cards for years, with many different groups of people in many different contexts. They have led to countless memorable conversations, new acquaintances and friends, more meaningful relationships and, last but not least, a deeper knowledge                             of myself.

Our aim was to create a game that was ready on the go, a game that did not require a complex space for playing or much preparation. In sum, we wanted a game that most resembled spontaneous conversation. The physical appearance of the game mirrors the colorful nature of our lives and personalities. Let’s just think of the many aspects that come together when we consider a word as rich as “life.” We are all different, diverse, and multi-faceted, yet we can come together and have strong relationships. But this cannot happen without a conscious effort to connect and to participate in meaningful conversations. This game                                 has proven to be the perfect tool for bringing people together.

I have had the privilege of playing ConversatiON on many occasions, and no matter who joined, I can honestly say we enjoyed every moment. I’ve played it with foreign volunteers, educational experts, at yoga camp, at international training sessions, and in the circle of family and friends. The game has proven a success whether played by complete strangers or close acquaintances. During the game, every player enjoys the undivided attention of all other players, enabling him or her to alternately share hilarious stories or serious experiences from different areas of life. The wide range of topics allows everyone to choose according to personal taste from either among the lighter or the “heftier” topics. The game subtly encourages all participants to give of themselves and to make an effort to get to know the others. An atmosphere of trust is born, which brings all participants just a little bit closer to one another. I recommend the game to those who find it difficult to begin a meaningful conversation, those who are bored of superficial topics, those who aim to get to know each other better, and those who are simply looking for a way to spend a pleasant evening.