I Freaking love Skyrim!

So I'm going to reveal a piece of myself that I am far to eager to shout from the rooftops but often never do...

It's a piece of myself that has been with me for many years but when admitted in public I see the oh so familiar look of vague disinterest come into the eyes of whoever is receiving my joy and jubilation on the particular topic...

I FREAKING LOVE SKYRIM!

But before you leave...!

Please...

Let me share this piece of my soul.

It all started in November 2011 with me as lonely, social unaccepted introvert and the release of the newest Elder Scrolls game. I never fit in particularly well at school, sure I had a few friends but I was often picked on for one thing or another and I'd never consider myself as one of the 'popular' kids. More often than not I would return home from school and find solace and comfort in my virtual realities. They would vary day by day or month by month but it wasn't until that one November in 2011 that my life would change in more ways than I could realise.

After being a long time fan of The Elder Scrolls series from the Morrowind days I was always going to be excited for Skyrim but upon paying full price, running home with my game in tow and firing it up in my Xbox (which was more dust than electronics) I found myself hooked from the very beginning.

And it wasn't the graphics or even the story particularly it was that total feeling of immersion. That feeling of being able to drop my worries from the day and loose myself in a virtual world which was both exhilarating and cathartic for me all in one go. And I can say it still is to this day!

I understand that there are a million and one arguments against exactly what I am talking about - "It provokes violence in teens," "He should spend more time in the real world," "It's not healthy," etc. But in all honesty I never saw those arguments as valid and I still don't! For me it was just a way of relieving some tension and having fun. And one of the best things for me as a kid was that my parents saw it the same way as I did. Sure I'd get the occasional "Hello stranger" as I descend from my pit to acquire food but they knew that what I was spending my hours on was something that I enjoyed and helped distract me from the day to day difficulties of being a teenager.

Speaking as an adult, how often do you get home from work after a long, grouling day and just want to drop it all for a few short hours and immerse yourself in something which can completely envelope you and give you that release? Be it the gym, reading a book, painting your nails or whatever. For me it's Skyrim!

Skyrim will always hold a special place in my heart because of what it did for me as a moody teenager with silly hair and social anxiety. It was my escape, my freedom, my ability to have the adventure I'd always dreamed of, and for that I will always be thankful. Skyrim gave me the confidence I needed to go out into the wide world and forge my own adventures with the knowledge that no challenge is to big to be overcome and that every tricky situation can be won with enough patience and the right set of skills.

If you made it this far then thank you for hearing me bare this part of my soul and I hoped you enjoyed reading!

Tom J x

#RAMBLINGS