What is GISH?

There is an annual event in which I participate, and it is always a challenge to convey the nature of this event to those around me. It is called GISH, an acronym for the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt. It is the life-changing, joyful and masochistic brainchild of actor Misha Collins (who plays Castiel in the television series Supernatural). He uses his platform of popularity with his fan base as an opportunity to affect positive change and raise social consciousness, and he offers a really incredible prize for the winning team. Players number in the thousands worldwide.

GISH embraces creativity, generosity, outreach, and, sometimes, unreasonable pain and suffering in completing tasks on a scavenger hunt list of over 200 items. Most items are achievable. Some are a bit of a stretch, and only achievable by the most rabid Gishers.

I participated in GISH for the first time in 2013. I honestly can’t remember how I learned about GISH (which was known then as GISHWHES — the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen), but I was excited to be a part of it. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I even decided to captain my own team. Little did I know that I was about to enter a week of activity that left me exhausted to the bone, emotionally numb, and I was pretty sure it was a once in a lifetime thing for me. Then I took a nap.

When I woke a few hours later, I felt something different. I marveled at the joy I experience while being forced to be creative. I was awed that I, a true introvert, had gone out and hugged strangers for a list item — and I LIKED it! (Oh, the good old days before social distancing.) I performed random acts of kindness anonymously, and they filled me with glee. I stepped way out of my comfort zone, and grew as a human being. I became more aware of how small actions can make big impacts. When I woke from my nap, I realized that I was a changed woman. Actually, truly, and forever changed.

What is GISH? It needs to be experienced to be understood. In its simplest form, it is fun, but on a broader spectrum, it is educational and inspirational. And frustrating and exhausting. And wonderful. So very wonderful.

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