In this day of video games, the Internet, and electronic interactive media, we may spend more time interacting with technology than with other human beings. To help modern people revive the art of interpersonal relationships, EPOS Concepts has created a series of games, for couples, friends, family members, and co-workers, in which everyone wins. Created by Gabrielle Raumberger and Aurelia Haslboeck-Kerr, The Secret of a Happy Relationship began as a personalized wedding gift for a few close friends. It was so popular that the two women decided to mass produce it, creating five different versions to address all types of relationships.

To play, each person gets a supply of frosted glass stones in different colors that symbolize emotions, along with an empty box. During the course of a week (or a designated period of time), participants "play" whenever they experience an emotional response to a fellow player. When a player's words, actions, or behaviors trigger feelings in another person, he or she selects a stone in a color that depicts her or his response and places it in the empty box. At the end of the week, players show each other their stones and share the feelings associated with them. In the spirit of the game, players are encouraged to open up to each other, rather than holding on to grudges, and to treasure positive memories of good feelings.

The Deluxe Edition for Couples is packaged in an elegant box made of raw silk, embroidered organza, and satin, with a built-in picture frame for the couple to display a photo of themselves ($79 retail). The Contemporary Edition, designed for friends, co-workers, or roommates to play, uses wooden boxes with ribbon ties to contain the multicolored stones ($49 retail). Four colorful triangular boxes (one for each member of a four-person family unit) that fit together to make a cube form the package for the Family Edition ($30 retail). The Best Friends Edition, for girlfriends of all ages, includes neon-colored zipper bags and daisy-snap jelly purses to hold stones ($26 retail). An Origami Edition teaches players how to make their own paper boxes using the traditional Japanese art of paper folding ($15 retail).

Life is a game, and we all are playing it. Why not have fun in the process? Rediscovering our sense of play is part of what these relationship games are all about.

Copyright © 2002, New Age Retailer

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