Apparently, Mahjong Is My Personality Now

If you had told me a year ago that I would have a standing weekly mahjong game, multiple sets of tiles and mats, and plans to start another weekly game, I probably would have laughed at you. And yet, here we are. Mahjong has officially become part of my personality.

The funny thing is, I did not grow up in a big game-playing family. I remember Candy Land, Guess Who?, and Uno, but that is about the extent of it. We weren't pulling out board games every weekend or sitting around the table playing cards after dinner. Because of that, I've always been the person who steers away when someone suggests a game night, especially if it comes with the words, “We'll teach you!”

But then mahjong started following me everywhere. I saw people playing it online, beautiful tables set with colorful tiles, patterned mats, gorgeous racks, and all the little accessories that go along with it. Eventually, the designer and decor lover in me simply couldn't resist. I'm not going to pretend my initial interest was purely intellectual. It was the tiles. And the mats. And the racks.

There is something so beautiful and tactile about the entire experience. You aren't just sitting down to play a game. You're setting a table, putting out snacks and drinks, and gathering people around something that feels equal parts game night and social ritual. For someone who loves hosting, collecting beautiful things, and finding reasons to gather people around a table, I suppose I never really stood a chance.

So I signed up for a mahjong class once a week for four weeks to learn how to play American mahjong, and somewhere during those four weeks, casual curiosity turned into a full-blown obsession. There is so much more strategy involved than I expected, and I love having something that challenges my mind in a completely different way. The older I get, the more I appreciate having hobbies that make me think, strategize, learn, and problem-solve.

I also didn't realize how much I was craving a hobby that didn't involve a screen. So much of my life and work happens through my phone or computer, so sitting around a table for a few hours with physical tiles in my hands and my phone nowhere in sight feels incredibly refreshing. But I think what has really made mahjong stick is the social aspect. As an adult, there aren't that many things that naturally give you a reason to regularly gather with the same group of people. Now I have a weekly game with girls in my neighborhood, and next month I'm starting a second weekly game. We sit around a table, talk, laugh, snack, catch up, and play. It's become something I genuinely look forward to every week.

And really, the more I think about it, the more this entire obsession makes sense. I've always internally considered myself a bit of a grandma. I love a 5 p.m. dinner reservation. I love comfortable, modest clothes. I am thrilled to be in bed by 9 p.m. I collect really old things. Give me an antique store and an early dinner and I am having an absolutely fantastic day. So naturally, the next logical step was apparently becoming a woman with multiple mahjong sets and two standing games a week.

What started because I kept seeing beautiful tiles everywhere has turned into a hobby I genuinely didn't know I needed. It challenges my brain, gets me away from a screen, and, most importantly, gives me another reason to gather around a table with people I enjoy. The fact that I also get to collect beautiful things along the way is simply a bonus. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself.

A Few Mahjong Brands I'm Loving

Since falling headfirst into the mahjong world, I've had the pleasure of trying pieces from several different brands, and there are so many beautiful options out there. A few that I've been loving are Sunday Mahjong, Haute Mahjong, SoloMahj, and Lucky Daughters.

Each brings something a little different to the table, from beautiful tiles, racks, and mats to SoloMahj's individual Charleston boards that let you practice on your own. I love seeing how much design and personality has made its way into the mahjong world, and I have a feeling my collection is only going to continue growing.

So if you've also been seeing mahjong everywhere and wondering whether you should finally learn, consider this your sign. Take the class, gather some friends around a table, and yes, buy the pretty tiles.

Just don't blame me when mahjong becomes part of your personality, too.