I remember when Pokémon came out when we were little. I played the yellow version on my hot pink Game Boy color, and soon after I began collecting the trading cards. I'm not sure when I stopped playing, or why. I'm sure I probably grew out of it. I put the cards away in their yellow Pikachu collector's album at the top of my closet and forgot they even existed.
A couple of years later, my mom pushed me to start reading a "new book that's popular called Harry Potter". She wasn't pushing me to read because I needed to- I literally had my nose in a book my entire childhood. She was just trying to be a good mom and get me interested in a new craze she'd been hearing about. When I finally did read the Sorcerer's Stone, I followed up with the next two that were out quickly. Goblet of Fire was released the next year, when I was in seventh grade. It was the longest book yet- 636 pages- and I read it in three days while on vacation in Myrtle Beach. It was like that with every book release from there on out. To this day, 14 years later, it's still true. I bought Cursed Child a couple of days after it came out this summer and I read every bit of it in a little over three hours.
A new hobby that I've taken interest in recently is comic books. I bought a collector's edition of The Dark Knight over the summer, and it was interesting to actually read a story cover to cover almost entirely with pictures. I've started getting into Marvel and DC recently, reading the stories as well as watching the movies that come out. Andrew has taught me a lot about Batman, and we watch animated cartoons a LOT. He recently bought me The Killing Joke (an R-rated cartoon about the Joker and Batgirl that's extremely messed up and I hated every minute of it), Son of Batman (a storyline where Bateman has a biological son, Damian), and Under the Red Hood (Dean from Supernatural is the voice of the Red Hood, and I won't spoil it in case anyone actually cares but this one is AWESOME). I've explored more than just the new Batman vs. Superman and Suicide Squad (terrible). I've got opinions about them because I watched adult cartoons. When was the last time that was cool?
Speaking of cartoons, I'm also one of those "weird" people who enjoys the hell out of Rick and Morty and actually think it makes sense on some levels. Go ahead, judge me. Just do your research first.
I stopped trying to be someone I'm not a while ago, but just recently did I begin to embrace the things that make me who I am with enthusiasm and positivity. I listen to dubstep unapologetically and share songs no one has even heard of on social media. I own a dress that looks like the Marauders' Map- it's adorable. I've been to a comic book convention. I've seen all of the X-Men movies and I can't wait for Logan to come out. I walk around downtown Woodstock in tennis shoes and a hoodie on a Friday night with my Pokémon game out on my phone in front of me without a care in the world who's looking or what they think about it. My daughter is now reading the Harry Potter books to me and I'm able to experience them again through her eyes. It's wonderful.
Anyway, my point is that all of these things are totally nerdy. It's a running joke about "comic book nerds"- have you watched an episode of The Big Bang Theory? What about all the memes made about Pokémon Go players telling them to "get a life"?
Pokémon Go has probably helped my relationship, if I'm being honest. We found a hobby we both love, and it's free. It gets us out of the house and gives us reasons to explore new places, like Andrew's first hike up Kennesaw Mountain a few weeks ago. (We were hunting a Bulbasaur nest- it's not there anymore, by the way.) We get competitive, and for once in my life I can actually say I'm better than him at something involving a video game. (I'm a higher level than him, and I have a Blastoise. He's salty and it's hilarious.) Still though, we help each other out in battles at gyms and try to find the monsters together. It's time we spend talking, laughing, and creating memories.
I guess what I'm saying is, don't lose who you are trying to follow what's "in". Don't shut out the parts of you that create the uniqueness of your soul. Be passionate about the things you love, not ashamed or apologetic. I don't care if you play a kazoo- play it and play your heart out. (Have you seen Walk Off The Earth's "Closer" cover?) If you're with a guy/girl who's trying to change those things about you, maybe you should re-evaluate your relationship. People deserve to be happy. People deserve to enjoy things. It's okay to be excited about something that no one's ever even heard of. Do you love a band nobody else likes or have a favorite song that's not popular? Share it anyway. It's okay to be weird. It's okay to be different. People remember you that way.
The people who matter and deserve to have you in their lives will love the weird or "uncool" parts of you as long as it puts a smile on your face. They'll love your nerdisms, they'll start tagging you in hilarious memes that you'll only understand if your elevator goes past a certain level. Your life will feel fuller. You will be upbeat and happy because you are enjoying life, even in the little things. My dad described me the best anyone ever has when he introduced me to his girlfriend last year: "This is Lindsey. She's my hippie child who always had her nose stuck in a book. She believes in fairies and magic and goes to music festivals." Then he laughed.
And those Pokémon cards I forgot existed? My 11 year old little brother was REALLY happy that his big sister used to nerd out in the 90's when he found them this summer.
Embrace your nerd. Get excited about stuff. Do weird stuff with your weird friends. Life is too short not to be happy.
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