Getting Lost In Other Worlds.

Have you ever found yourself completely immersed in something that you forgot you existed outside of whatever book you're reading, movie you're watching, music you're listening to, game you are playing? The feeling of getting totally lost in something that captivates your mind and heart is an experience that is rare but when it happens it is truly special.

I was in the third grade when my aunt gifted me the first book in a fantasy series for Christmas. I had always loved reading and was above the average skill level for children my age but when I saw that paperback book consisting of about 400 pages, I was immediately intimidated by the thickness of the novel I had just unwrapped. Until that point, I had only ever read shorter books and that book was geared towards children who had a sixth grade reading level. I didn't believe I had the reading skills to actually understand and enjoy the book.

That book sat on my shelf at home for about six months before I had the nerve to actually attempt reading it. Despite its intimidating thickness, I was intrigued by the glossiness of the cover and the beautiful illustration depicted on the front. Every time I looked at it on my shelf I thought, "I should read that book," and immediately followed it up with, "No, I'm not good enough at reading yet." Eventually I worked up the courage to crack the thing open and after the first few pages I was completely hooked.

The reading level was a slight challenge so I had to keep a dictionary next to me while reading it so I could look up what certain words meant (shout out to dial-up internet) but despite that I trooped on towards the end of the book. This book was a real page turner - one of those books you could sit down with and sink your teeth into. Over the course of one weekend I read the entire book and when I was finished I was so enchanted by this story that the only thing I was able to do was put my book down, stare at my ceiling, and wish I could be a part of that world. My solution? Pick up the book a day later and read it again, cover to cover.

That was what I did for an entire year until the following Christmas when I knew my next gift from my aunt would be the next book in the series. This went on for the next six or seven years, and for the better part of the decade I escaped to this fantasy land in these books. The joy and inspiration those books brought me throughout my childhood directly influenced my future taste in other books as well as influenced my drawings and art work. Eventually I grew out of those books, moving on to reading more challenging series but those books will always hold a place in my heart; in fact, they are still sitting on my bookshelf nearly 20 years later.

Now as an adult when I find myself immersed in other worlds it feels more bittersweet than anything else. The videogame Skyrim was one form of media I had been heavily invested in and once I finally finished it and had nothing else to play my life almost felt lonely. You become attached to these characters that we identify with, become emotionally invested in their stories and adventures. Then once the book cover closes or the credits role, suddenly you're reminded that you don't actually live in a whimsical place. You can't cast spells with your hands, or ride dragons through the air, or defeat the impending evil that is looming over your village. You're reminded that you instead have bills to pay, a job to attend, a dryer that keeps making a banging sound every time it turns on.

There is nothing wrong with getting lost in other worlds, in fact, I encourage it. We all need creative outlets in order to keep a healthy and happy mind. However, a good thing to get lost in is our own world. Maybe you can't grow fairy wings or befriend an elf or tame a wild mountain cat but one thing you can do is romanticize your own crazy little life. Sip pastel colored teas from thrifted teacups. Pick up a pair of vintage binoculars and spy on local wildlife. Buy that plush, mustard-toned blanket you saw at that craft sale and enjoy wrapping yourself in it on a cold winters night

Our lives don't have to be dull and boring shades of beige. It's up to us to give it color, regardless of how soft and muted the tint may seem.