Fandom Snowflake Challenge: Day 11

[rogueslayer452]

Share a book/song/movie/tv show/fanwork/etc that changed your life.


There's a lot of things out there that have been massively influential to me throughout my entire life, and it quite honestly never stops since there will always be something that I will eventually discover that will unexpectedly change my life. But for the purpose of this particular challenge I will be picking a singular thing that changed me during a very specific point of my life. And that thing, for me, was Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.

I didn't really discover the Harry Potter series until after the first film came out (which we bought/rented on VHS at the time), and I didn't know what it was at first, but as the movie kept going I was like, oh, this looks interesting. I learned it was a book series that my sister had and I asked to borrow them, read them, and basically was hooked instantly from there on. But what made this life-changing for me was, during this time in my teens, it was the height of my depression. I was in a state of not really enjoying much of anything and in a constant black hole, so when I got introduced to the series it kind of opened more of that gate that was slowly start to open again for me to get back into things I enjoyed. I became engrossed with the story, wanting to escape to this magical place, and wanted to immerse myself into this world. I started to really come out from my shell bit by bit as the books and movies continued to be released, wanting to know more, being excited about where the story was going to go, going to midnight releases, etc.

So while Harry Potter obviously didn't cure my depression, it was one of the contributing factors that helped me heal along the way of getting back to myself from a dark time. And although now I view the series from a different perspective many years later as an adult, seeing the flaws and holes within the plot and being quite critical of the series as a whole, I still hold the series close to my heart for being something that helped me get through a difficult period of my life.


Honorable mentions include: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was a huge part of my formative years; Battlestar Galactica, which got me very interested in science fiction as a genre where previously I was more selective of it, and most recently Critical Role which introduced me to Dungeons & Dragons in a very unique way.

Comments

[blakmagjick]

"it was one of the contributing factors that helped me heal along the way of getting back to myself from a dark time" That's awesome :)

[kikimay]

This is beautiful. And yes, it's not like a book can "cure" your depression, but it's such a comforting place and a little step towards the light. I relate to that, totally.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Thank you. And yeah, escaping to fictional worlds is something that can help someone when they are lost in darkness. HP was one of many that was a huge catalyst in my journey of climbing out of that void during that particular point in my life, and I am forever thankful that I entered my life when it did. :)

[violateraindrop]

It's great that this series helped you! :)

Harry Potter got me into reading for fun. I was a good student but never picked up a book. I definitely started before the first movie came out. Not sure when though.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I was similar. Due to being forced with required reading in school, which I absolutely hated, I very rarely picked up books for fun until much later around my high school years. It didn't mean that I refused to read a few books that interested me here and there, but it wasn't necessarily a habit I had until I started reading more regularly a bit later.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

Harry Potter changed my life too, but more because of the fandom, although I absolutely love the books first and foremost. I never even really cared about the movies that much - I mean, I saw them, I liked them, but that was about it.

And a re-read of PoA last year helped me cope with my mom's illness, which as you know was getting worse and worse. I know it seems like an odd book to choose during such a grueling time... I think it was the laughter and the chocolate. Also, I felt connected to JKR, since I knew she based much of the book on a similar time in her life.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite of the entire series for many reasons, but what I liked was how the Dementors were created to basically be the physical embodiment of depression. I really liked that, as it gives a clear idea of what it does -- sucks the joy and life from you, where it's just an endless void of nothingness where you feel like you cannot get out from it. It's very effective.

[haebin.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing this with us.
It is incredible that a serie of books can help us to find a way out of the darkness.
The same happened to me with Lord of the Rings. For a long time the books and movies were a help to deal with a lot of bad stuff.
:)

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I feel like this is the power of storytelling, honestly. Whether it's a book, television show, movie, webseries, podcast, even fanfiction, storytelling is a very powerful medium to really reach out to people in different ways and change our lives. I was in a very dark place, and I didn't really see anything at the end of the tunnel, but then getting introduced to the HP series, waiting for the releases of the next book or movie, it helped me heal in ways that I cannot explain. Again, it was only one contributing factor, but it was an important one.

Never underestimate the power and importance storytelling has on people, it can literally save lives and allow people to find themselves again.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)