As I was taking small breaks in between on July 23rd, 2009 to check my Twitter for updates on the New Moon Comic Con, I realized I was completely distracted and forced myself to hide the iPod Touch with internet connection. It was too tempting, and like Mr. King had advised, when you are writing, reading, whatever, you need to be in your favorite serene environment with the door shut, submerging yourself in your latest to-do.
So what is obsession? The dictionary.com definition is one of 4:
1) the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc.
2) the idea, image, desire, feeling, etc., itself.
3) the state of being obsessed [how original]
4) the act of obsessing [once again, not helpful]
Still this doesn't answer my question; what is the root of obsession? My only answer is simple: to escape. Personally, I use music as an escape, though I have my share of obsessions as well. Writing, being one of them, and obsessing over Twilight is obviously a big thing since last July when I had first picked up that damn book, but my ranting over that series is for another blog post entirely.
Think about it, why do you do what you do? Be it reading, writing, music, dance, sports, or anything, why do you do it? It's fun, it gets your mind off of things, it allows you to escape your mundane reality and dive into something else.
Twilight, for instance, has given me an alternate world to dive into. This world includes the perfect man, the perfect life, and the perfect friends and family mixed in with getting everything you want and everything works out for you. A vampire can't have children? Well, Bella will before that decision comes. Although I loathe the characters of Bella and Edward and how easily they get what they want, I pick up one of the four books at least once a day to skim over my favorite bits and pieces if I'm not already writing.
Fanfiction can be called a fan's easy way out or the glorified version of it can be used to describe Stephenie Meyer's writing, is another way of expanding that obsession or, in another way of thinking, containing it. Either reading it or taking part in the harsh, but sometimes rewardingly gracious fanfiction community, you was indulging in your obsession; feeding the flames, if you will.
-pauses as I check Twitter.com-
Do you see? From my own experiences with friends, it is a good way to bring up things in common, to make friends, and to build on friendships. For instance, a girl sat at my lunch table in 9th grade and I said nothing to her most of the year, but we were in a group of friends that mingled with each other. I mentioned my love for the 8-Tony-Award-Winning Broadway Musical Spring Awakening, and ever since we've been good friends. A good friend of mine introduced me to Twilight and now we never hang out without talking about it at least once.
Everyone knows what to get me for my sixteenth birthday; anything, anything at all related to Jackson Rathbone.
So obsession can make acquaintances friends, can make friends best friends, and can just help people figure out what to get their friend for their birthday. On the other hand, the escape aspect that I dwelled on and digressed into an alternate universe after mentioning. Think about yourself right now.
Who are you? How old are you? What is your hobby? Your obsession? How many times do you think/talk/mention it a day/week/month/year? Are you using it as an escape from what is really going on in your life or just as a habit built up over time? Have you gained friends or companions that you wouldn't have if it weren't for this hobby or love for [fill in the blank]?
Alcoholics use alcohol to escape [duh], drug-addicts use their drug of choice, writers/artists/musicians use their art and passion, and you use what? Blogging? Reading blogs? Twitter, facebook, computer, television, is it SpongeBob SquarePants or Private Practice that has you at the edge of your seat, groaning when commercials come on or when you are forced away from the TV?
Maybe obsessions are to escape the reality of not knowing. We don't know why we're here. I mean, some believe God knows or there is a supreme being who will tell us when we've gotten it right once we die, but for now, what is it? Is it to shun away from "perfection" or the Hollywood's idea of "perfection"? But that's another obsession entirely! Hollywood! Tell me you've never stopped to look at a tabloid when standing in line at the grocery store. "JON & KATE PLUS BABYSITTER!!" or "ANGIE TOLD BRAD TO PACK UP AND LEAVE!" You've seen it.
This is when I digress again. My 7th grade English teacher was a stickler. He'd give us ten minutes in the beginning of the forty-minute period to write a well-developed paragraph of his choice, full of transitions and vocabulary that he would be proud of. Now by the time everyone got into the classroom and started after writing down their homework and nonsense, we'd have five minutes. He would call on you when he knew you wouldn't ready [like all teachers do with their prodigy radar], and as you'd try and protest or paraphrase what you meant, he'd tell you to read word for word what you had on your paper. No matter how embarrassed you were at this awkward transition age, you'd read your paragraph aloud, as you try to ignore the snorts from the girl whom you've just had a confrontation with that was only four or five weekends old - and still hung heavy in the air between you. He'd stop, nod, and turn to the class, using air quotes as he told us. '"perfection" is not what the goal is here, but doing our best and having confidence in what that means to each of us, individually.' He will remain my favorite teacher.
"Perfect me" is obsessed with Twilight, writing, facebook, Twitter, the internet, Jackson Rathbone, Avatar: The Last Airbender, air hockey, reading, Harry Potter, Stephenie Meyer, playing music on guitar and flute or on my iTunes, editing pictures on PicNik, sifting through horrid fanfics of my favorite book/TV show/movie at the time, and above all Star Bucks. All of these allow me to escape the High School drama of the day or the week, the friend drama of the hour, and the annoyance of the morning or perhaps the weather.
Obsession (n): one's way of escaping reality, be it good or bad, for enjoyment through hobbies or pastimes, despite imperfections.
That's my definition.
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