Earlier this week I found out a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. This is hitting me a bit hard as they are one of those friends that are so close, I just give up calling them a friend and refer to them as part of my adopted family. While this cancer is treatable, it’s still devastating to have happen to someone I know and care about.
After I got the news, I tried my best to focus and handle what I needed to get done for my businesses. However, that just wasn’t happening. So instead, I loaded up Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls and ran some rifts, tackled a lot of bounties, and slayed many demons. Later on, my friends joined in and we joked and laughed. It was just what I needed to take my mind off things.
Over the last few days, I’ve being doing much the same routine anytime the thought of cancer crosses my mind. At night I run around Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate until my body just crashes and I fall asleep. I’m currently downloading Homeworld Remastered and I look forward to losing the rest of my day to a game I have so many fond memories of.
I also realized that I have turned to video games in the past when difficult situations decided they needed to be a part of my life. My childhood best friend and I played the crap out of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past as we dealt with parental issues. I believe that game is what kept us both sane, actually. World of Warcraft and EverQuest 2 pulled me through having no job, needing to depend on the generosity of others, and all that happened while I was living in a completely new state. The list goes on.
While I’m not saying video games are a cure all when dealing with difficult issues/times, I do believe they can provide us a rest when we need it most. Even just an hour in a virtual world can do a lot to let the mind have a break and re-center itself, thus allowing us to tackle what needs doing with more focus. Video games, you are my mental medication when I need it most, and I love you for it!
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