Dear friends and colleagues,
As you all know, I am absolutely determined to change the culture of chess in America for the better. As I have said many times, it will be the most difficult task of my life, even more difficult than winning World Championships and Olympic Gold medals.
Most chess politicians do not want to change their ways. They do not want to relinquish their power even if it helps chess or the USCF. Therefore, I have to work even harder to promote chess in this country and around the world in a positive light. I also have other more important duties such as raising my 2 sons.
It is not easy to wake up before 7 AM each morning to get my children ready for school, pick them up after school, help them with their homework, additional educational activities, teach them chess, prepare dinner, bathe and get them ready for bed, etc.
In the middle of the motherly duties, I also teach chess to private students and at various schools, write chess articles for many major publications, run a full time chess center, answering tons of email and messages, work on my new books, DVDs and update this blog daily. That is almost a full time job in itself.
On top of these daily tasks, I have to deal with destructive chess politicians who do not think twice about smearing my name and harming my family as well as destroying chess. I also have to deal with a psychotic ex.
My body finally gave out this morning from massive stress. I fainted and collapsed (luckily) at my doctor’s office. Ambulance had to be called and I was taken to the hospital. I spent nearly the entire day at the emergency room. The doctor had to finally do a minor operation. I am OK now. I just have to be extremely careful for the next 10 days or so. Thank God that my Mother is here visiting and she was able to help me as well as taking care of my children.
I love chess with a passion and I love my children. I will continue to give 150% of myself to make sure that my children will have normal and healthy life in spite of various problems that they have to face. I will also continue to do everything I can to help chess, especially in the United States.
I made a plea with the USCF members in the USCF forums not long ago about the same issue. Chess cannot survive with the same old pattern of dirty and destructive politics. The level of animosity and hatred between chess politicians will eventually sink our sport. I asked for civility and mutual respect. These destructive politicians did not care. Not only that they did not stop, they launched even bigger and more vicious lies and attacks.
That is why I am pleading with all of you here. If you love this game then please do your parts to help promote this game in a positive light. Please give each other the mutual respect and please put the best interest of chess first. Please do not give these inhuman politicians chances to continue to destroy our sport. We must unite for the sake of our Chess.
Thank you!
Susan Polgar
get well soon Susan.
take care!
Ditto to the above.
Enjoy yourself, your Family and your gift of chess. Not sure chess needs anyone to fight for itself to reach those that would appreciate it. Don’t need to force yourself to force others I think. In any case get well. I appreciate what you do.
Take care , Susan . You are the Tony Robbins of Chess.
Your mind is stronger than your body, so try to get some help for those daily activities and save your energy for your biggest priorities…
Take care!
Your health must come first Susan…without that, you can’t take care of your family and enjoy your work, etc. Please take care and follow your doctor’s orders! You might need to scale back your activities, but that would be worth it to be healthy!
I recall you were exercising daily before the World Cup…I don’t know what the doctor will order, but if you have been too busy to exercise lately, maybe the exercise might be good now (or as soon as your present health and doctor permit) as a stress reliever too? Best wishes!
GM Polgar,
Get well soon. Please take some time to rest. You do so much for all of us and we are all so grateful for that. However, now you must give yourself some time to recover. As my grandmother, who was a very wise nurse, once said, “First you need to get yourself well, then you will be able to again fully dedicate yourself to your family (and in your case the chess community) Otherwise you will be cheating both yourself and your family (and the chess community).”
Best in life and then in chess,
Dr. Mark Mieth
GM Polgar,
Get well soon. Please take some time to rest. You do so much for all of us and we are all so grateful for that. However, now you must give yourself some time to recover. As my grandmother, who was a very wise nurse, once said, “First you need to get yourself well, then you will be able to again fully dedicate yourself to your family (and in your case the chess community) Otherwise you will be cheating both yourself and your family (and the chess community).”
Best in life and then in chess,
Dr. Mark Mieth
GM Polgar,
Get well soon. Please take some time to rest. You do so much for all of us and we are all so grateful for that. However, now you must give yourself some time to recover. As my grandmother, who was a very wise nurse, once said, “First you need to get yourself well, then you again will be able to fully dedicate yourself to your family (and in your case the chess community) Otherwise you will be cheating both yourself and your family (and the chess community).”
Best in life and then in chess,
Dr. Mark Mieth
GM Polgar,
Get well soon. Please take some time to rest. You do so much for all of us and we are all so grateful for that. However, now you must give yourself some time to recover. As my grandmother, who was a very wise nurse, once said, “First you need to get yourself well, then you again will be able to fully dedicate yourself to your family (and in your case the chess community) Otherwise you will be cheating both yourself and your family (and the chess community).”
Best in life and then in chess,
Dr. Mark Mieth
GM Polgar,
Get well soon. Please take some time to rest. You do so much for all of us and we are all so grateful for that. However, now you must give yourself some time to recover. As my grandmother, who was a very wise nurse, once said, “First you need to get yourself well, then you again will be able to fully dedicate yourself to your family (and in your case the chess community) Otherwise you will be cheating both yourself and your family (and the chess community).”
Best in life and then in chess,
Dr. Mark Mieth
GM Polgar,
Get well soon. Please take some time to rest. You do so much for all of us and we are all so grateful for that. However, now you must give yourself some time to recover. As my grandmother, who was a very wise nurse, once said, “First you need to get yourself well, then you again will be able to fully dedicate yourself to your family (and in your case the chess community) Otherwise you will be cheating both yourself and your family (and the chess community).”
Best in life and then in chess,
Dr. Mark Mieth
GM Polgar,
Get well soon. Please take some time to rest. You do so much for all of us and we are all so grateful for that. However, now you must give yourself some time to recover. As my grandmother, who was a very wise nurse, once said, “First you need to get yourself well, then you again will be able to fully dedicate yourself to your family (and in your case the chess community) Otherwise you will be cheating both yourself and your family (and the chess community).”
Best in life and then in chess,
Dr. Mark Mieth
Chess has survived for more than 2,000 years and will continue whether or not you or anyone else makes a heroic sacrifice. The most important thing is that you look after your children such as Jackie Kennedy. Your protest against the duality of human nature is laudable but futile.You need to find a man who like kids and plays chess.
Susan, The greatest American football coach Vince Lombardi said to his players. First comes family, second comes your religion and third comes your sport. As a loving fan I am concerned about what recently happened. Stress is a serious matter. Im sure you know right now you are way over extended in your chess activities. I think it is time to give the blog a rest and maybe take a family vacation for a couple of months to get away from everything.
God Bless Susan
John (tfk)
Rest well, Susan.
Get well Susan. You really deserve your special place in the chess world: as a great promoter of this art and science as well as a great player.
Wish you all the best.
Azerbaijani chess lover
Please do take care of yourself Susan. We all know the tremendous burden you feel for chess and its players, especially the young ones. Your body has definitely signaled that it is all too much for one person.
I echo the sentiments already expressed here – your recovery and being there for your children must be priority #1. Please do take care of yourself. And I know I speak for many, MANY of us when I say thank you for what you have already done. You already are a hero in our eyes.
Blessings,
DutchDunce
Susan, you’re a warm & generous lady. Hope you’ll be 100% again very soon!
Best Wishes to you & your family!
-Rod
Get well, Susan. We appreciate what you do and want you back at full strength!
Susan,
Take good care of yourself. Get well soon. Thank you for the vision and efforts for Chess in America.
You are in our thoughts. Wishing you a speedy recovery, good health, and blessings.
Sincerely,
Gregory Alexander
Ms. Polgar –
First all, my best wishes for your speedy recovery. I have been keeping up with your blog for quite some time and I only now decided to comment. And I must say you are truly and inspiration for all of us and we will lucky to have you on our side in the USCF.
Let me give you some words of advice.
1) Take care of yourself! Your family is important but so is your own health. Make sure you keep a balance in life and treat yourself daily, even if it’s only for a little bit. Your kids and the USCF all need you to be in your best form! 😀
2) When I was reading about your desire to run for the board on the USCF I was delighted. But I was also thinking that overcoming politics could be harder than becoming a GM! But you know what Susan? I don’t think things are as bad as they seem and I don’t think a few dirty scoundrels will sink chess. You know why? Because there are thousands of us out there all over the country and the rest of the world who are completely in love with chess. These people want nothing more than to learn, play games and enjoy great comraderie with their fellow players. I think that alone will continue to carry chess forever. Or for at least a good long time anyway!
So I guess what I’m trying to say is relax, take care of yourself and think positive!!! And I hope someday I will have the great honor of meeting you in person.
Best wishes,
– Marcus from San Diego
I hope that your health comes soon back in great form !
for your recovery i wish you all the best. and please keep in mind: nothing – really nothing – is more important, than a good health. so, please take care of yourself!
sincerly, Vohaul
Get well soon and enjoy your life!
Susan,
As all the rest of the people who write here, I wish you a quick recovery. Take care of you and rest. When I read about your trips around the world, your presence in so many activities, being with your lovely children and helping them and participating in politics, I thought it is a very busy life. As somebody said, your body is weaker than your enormous mind!
The health and your family are much more important than work or chess. We love chess and appreciate your inmense capacity to promote it between the children. But we need you in good form! Get well soon,
Enrique
Susan, please get well and take care of your health. Please put your health, children first and everything else in it’s proper place. Surround yourself with positive good people and pursue your goals without harming your health. I have already spoken to everyone I know here in California and everyone is going to vote for you and your staff of proffesionals. Please relax and take care, We all admire and love you.
YOU BETTER REST SUSAN 🙂 THE CHESS WORLD WILL WAIT ON YOU. I am glad you are ok…
Hi Susan !
Hope you get better soon.
I know, it’s easier said than done,
but don’t let lies and insults get
to you.
For them, this is just part of the
political game.
Greetings
Take care of yourself and don’t be afraid to let your family care for you.
Best wishes for your recovery.
Get well soon!
come back Susan when you will be ok! All the chess world needs you…not just America…your work is useful for a positive culture of this sport!
Dario from Italy
Very best wishes Susan. You are superwoman with a black knight embalzoned where lesser superheroes wear a poxy letter.
You’re amazing and we need you Susan so: take care, get well and don’t try to fly again before you’re ready.
Matt
Susan,
I think you are doing a great job and hope you recover fully and quickly. I have no doubts that you have the support of many many people. All the best,
Luiz Camargo
Best wishes and prayers for your health and success Susan.
Rest, exercise (try to run the NY Marathon :)), block out the bad vibes.
Joe B.
Philippines
Susan,
Get well soon, and please take good care of yourself.
Remember: “a bi gezunt!”
Get well soon, Susan! Best wishes 🙂
I hope you get well soon!
Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.
—Victor Hugo
Get well soon, Susan!
Best wishes.
I was sometimes thinking how you could do so much activities, you are generally so much busy Susan and may be your body could not carry at some point.
I respect your love to chess, it seems while “chess is mental torture” (by Garry Kasparov) also struggling for chess is a torture!
We hope you get well soon, and care about yourself, your children and finally chess as before you did. By the way politicians are always same for them their chairs are more important than everything! So don’t think them try to walk only on your way, May God give your health back, and help you.
Best regards..
Oh dear. Get better soon.
Susan,
Remember that a woman’s place is in the home raising her family! Hope ypu are feeling better soon. The when you are mid-thirty your body begins knocking on your time clock.
Best wishes and thank god for grandparents!
God bless.
Yeah, when I was 38 the same thing happened to me when my appendix bit the dust. Hope you recover quickly.
“I asked for civility and mutual respect. These destructive politicians did not care. Not only that they did not stop, they launched even bigger and more vicious lies and attacks.”
Welcome to the world of politics, Susan! Good luck.
Dear Susan,
I wish you a restful and quick recovery.
Sincerely,
Henry
Dear Susan,
I wish you a speedy recovery. I met you a few years ago in Florida at the USCF meeting. You inspired me to do more with chess in my life. I now run a chess club at my son’s former elementary school. We have grown from 25 children to about 100. We have more girls involved now too. The puzzles were a good tool.
It has taken four years, but steady work from myself and a teacher has grown the fruit. A garden takes time to produce. Don’t get discouraged and remember if you can’t take care of yourself, you will have no time to take care of anything or anyone else.
Enjoy the day.
Ken Cigala
Hope you are feeling better Susan. Worry not about the USCF, sometimes picking up the pieces or spreading the spoils is easier than changing a well-established organization.
Susan:
Please rest and give your body a chance to heal. Sometimes we moms get into a rut of doing too much for everyone else and neglecting our own health and well being. You don’t have to take on the USCF establishment by yourself. You have many supporters who will help you.
Take care,
nyc chess mom
Take care, Susan!
We need you!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
I hope you will get well soon Susan.
get well soon susan…we love to see you healthy and fit.
You a the brightest of the bright lights in chess, Susan Polgar, and would still be working much less hard than you do. You must put aside worries about USCF politics. There isn’t enough bile to tarnish your credibility. Priorize your activities then drop the ones at the bottom of the list. Your body is telling you to slow down. You must listen for your sake and for ours.
Susan
Please do not worry about the election. We and all your fans are going to make sure you get elected.
Let us all get out there and make sure all the chess player know who to vote for. Susan must win this election.
Now Susan, you just watch how good all your fans are going to work so hard for you. I am going to pledge to work harder than I had been planning. I will make sure I get out the vote locally.
I expect and know that everyone of your true and loyal fans will put in some time and do some thing to make sure you get elected.
David
Wishing a quick recovery – both for you and for U. S. Chess.
Dr. Rene Ochoa
we love you Susan…get well fast!
Dear Susan,
As you know I love Chess. I also enjoy your Blog and your crusade for the betterment of Chess in the USA. I hope you stay with it. I too am crusading for Chess on a smaller scale, here in my neighborhood. I was hoping to become a Certified Chess Instructor—but unfortunately came down with a terminal illness. I have almost lost my voice and I am now fighting COPD. If anyone else reads this….I urge you to quit smoking now. (COPD is not good. It’s like Bronchitis, and Emphysema together, with bouts of Asthma).
Back to my reply: Susan, as far as negative people you encounter (USCF), this may help. First of all, pray for these people- daily. G-d has put these people in our lives for a reason. We often come in conflict with people places, things and events—because we choose not to accept things the way they are— this is when the conflict starts. Nothing happens by mistake. We must accept these people and situations, as they are. We cannot change them. We must look at what needs to be changed within ourselves—Not what needs to be changed in the world. We are truly powerless over people,. places, things and events. I am the world’s chief critic. I can easily point out every little flaw in everything. Perfectionism will not guarantee peace. For me, I gained serenity, when I began to accept things as they are. It doesn’t mean I have to like or approve. I only have to accept. Truly, there is a little bad in the best of us, and a little good in the worst of us. When I criticize the people around me—then I am playing G-d. I would be behaving as if I knew better than him. Now, I too am often on the frontline. I always judge myself by my intentions, as the world is judging me by my actions!!! It’s fine to work for a noble cause— REMEMBER: NO GOOD DEED WILL GO UNPUNISHED….this is the way things are, sometimes. But don’t forget to look for the good…. in everything…including your “X.”. Forgive me for dispensing advice. I just want you to slow down a bit. You are not “Super Woman,” although you do come close. Please take care of yourself and I will say a little prayer for you. Truly, you are such a sweetheart. I see you as a champion for kids, and all that is good for Chess and the betterment of humanity, by elevating the mind. Your kids are lucky to have such a wonderful mom. When you get out of the hospital, get a trip to the “Day-spa” and a nice long massage. Maybe the trip to the hospital is G-ds way of telling you to slow down just a little. Get well soon.
((((HUGS))))
Best wishes for you. Try to get more relax and also try to reorganize your schedule and I’m sure you will get your goals which are really important. Many people is with you …
I hope you find this info useful. Its about sleep and how its lack thereof can affect one adversely.
http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/b01/en/common/item_detail.jhtml;jsessionid=PUMV0G2MIPINEAKRGWDSELQBKE0YIISW?id=R0610B
Best wishes to get well soon!