I like what I do, and I do what I like

               So today's rant hits home with me in many ways, having been subjected to this particular topic for many, many, MANY years, dating back to 6th grade. And until just a couple years ago, I had no way of putting what I felt in words. In the song "Petrified" by Fort Minor; Mike Shinoda says "I like what I do, I do what I like." At first I didn't understand it at all. It just seemed like a filler phrase, something to flip back on itself. But as I kept hearing that line over and over, I began to understand what he was really saying; or at least how the phrase applied to me, and realized it was what I had failed to say for so many years.

              So whats this all about? I'll tell you. I am so tired of being ridiculed, mocked, or insulted for the things that I enjoy. Not in the sense of a lifestyle choice or a religion like being homosexual or being a Muslim, but actvities, hobbies, likes and dislikes. Why does it matter what genre of books I read, or movies I watch, or what I do with my spare time? I remembered being teased and insulted throughout middleschool and part of highschool because I enjoy prefer Fantasy and Sci-Fi genre books and movies. I was a nerd, and still am. I don't see it as a bad thing; but judging by how avid they were about insulting my friends and I, you'd think we had been neo-nazis.

             But in recent years my love for videogames and computers has been put up on the chopping block. Maybe you spend some of your time sowing a dress, watching football, hiking, going to a bumpin' party, or shooting photos? I spend some of my time killing zombies or leveling up my warrior and getting cool armor. Is it REALLY that big of a deal? You don't have to like what I do, thats why its my hobby, and not yours; or else you'd be doing it too and not patronizing me almost daily. I can count on one hand how many friends I have that live in my city still. The closest friends outside my city live an hour and 1/2 drive away, and some live on the east coast with many between. We regularly play games and chat with each other with text or voice chat, making it a great way to keep in touch with everyone, and to get friends together for some fun. So next time you say that its an anti-social activity, think again. I met some good friends through gaming: Travis, Brady and Lucas to name a few.

            So what does this all have to do with that quote? Hopefully it makes sense by now. I like what I do, and I do what I like. I'm not gonna change something so trivial as a hobby just to please someone else. IT DOESN'T MATTER. If it's not hurting anyone, then why do you care? I promise your stress levels will decrease when you stop caring about such trivial things. I know mine has. So next time someone says "you sure spend alot of time doing X" or "Why do you do Y so much? it takes up alot of your time" Just reply with "You say that like its a bad thing. I like what I do and I do what I like." Hopefully you'll get them thinking.

TL; DR-Stop ridiculing people for something they enjoy. There is no reason to hate something because its different or not the norm.