The Mega Plate

Last year we skipped posting on this day because it was the Super Bowl, but this year I come the bring you- The Mega Plate!

I grew up immersed in sports. I played, I watched, I discussed, the whole nine. But as I grew up it wasn't really who I was anymore. I slowly shed off my love of sports and found deeper love in all things nerd. I know that seems pretty obvious at this point- I run a nerd blog and not a sports blog- but I point it out because it shows we are all capable of change. Not even the type of change I talked about last week- transitions and adaptation. No, we are capable of out-growing out hobbies, or simply changing our minds, or even just finding something we love more. Thinking about that and how hard of a time I had coming to that realization made me want to come out today of all days and let you you- it's okay.

A few years ago I found myself struggling with what the word "identity" meant to me. Not on a very deep level but questioning if the "me" that I portrayed to be was accurate. I remember hesitating when people asked me simple questions like, "what's your favorite color?" My whole life blue had been my favorite color. The shade a blue sometimes varied but it was always blue. I felt stuck when people asked me this question now though, because it wasn't blue anymore, and it hadn't been for a while. For some reason my mind translated these changes into being fake. I felt guilty for changing for some reason and never told anyone out loud what I was thinking, and instead I kept repeating my old answers. Or, more often than not, letting other answer for me.

Eventually, after struggling silently for almost a year, I was sitting with friends and the topic of favorite comic heroes came up. I don't remember exactly how, but Aquaman came up. Let's pause for a bit of background: anyone who knows me will without hesitation tell you my favorite superhero is Wonder Woman. If you were to walk into my office, you would see an entire Wonder Woman set up. BUT if you were to ask me what I bought out of that set up, out of all those collectibles (and there is A LOT), my answer would be 3 things. Everything else was gifts from other people. SO, when people started talking crap about Aquaman and I spoke up and it shocked quite a few people. I said, "I love Aquaman and here is my detailed explanation as to why *insert mini rant*". They laughed at me, but not in a mean way. It was very light hearted, and they pointed out that Wonder Woman was my favorite superhero, though, so it didn't count. But no one asked me who my favorite superhero was.

The fact was, Aquaman had been my favorite superhero since I was a child. I adored him, but people always bought me Wonder Woman stuff until I had enough to build a freaking shrine. I had a mini break down at that party. One of my best friends held me and after listening to me babble on about favorite colors and Disney princesses, she told me something life changing: "it's okay if your favorite color isn't blue". Huh, that had never occurred to me.

This all seems rather dramatic for just some random facts about myself, that are otherwise insignificant. But the fact is they're not. All these little things, all these little facts and favorites, they make up who you are. And what had never occurred to me is that they can change. Your likes and dislikes can change an endless amount of times and it does not make you less of "you". It makes you more of "you" actually, because it shows that you are evolving and growing all the time.

For the record, I absolutely do adore Wonder Woman, so if you contributed to the shrine, don't feel bad. Just know that she shares her pedestal with Aquaman, now. Also, if you were wondering, my favorite color is yellow. And finally, I don't watch the Super Bowl anymore, which is where this all started. The same friend that told me it was okay that my favorite color wasn't blue anymore, told me last night that she held herself back from expressing exactly how happy she was that (after much more serious changes in her life) she would never have to watch a Super Bowl again. We felt though, as you shed something, there is something magical in putting on something new. So, let today be the first ever Mega Plate. Where we watch anime and eat snacks and apps and find enjoyment in more than just weird marketing commercials.

If you like the Super Bowl or if you don't, both are fine. Just know that it is absolutely okay to change your mind about things. It's even okay to change your mind back if you want to. Just be true to you. Don't lie about your favorite color, and allow yourself to celebrate the little wins that change can bring. To all those excited for the Super Bowl- Best of luck to your teams! I hope you have so much fun! For those of you where that is just not your thing- feel free to make Mega Plate something for you to enjoy. Either way, have a wonderful Sunday.

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Thank you for joining me in getting a little messy today. I'm proud of you taking on the day! I hope today sets you up for a great week to come. I will be back on Wednesday with some Nerdom, we are sooooo close to the Anime Awards now, I can taste it! I hope to see you then but in the meantime, stay safe, stay true, and stay messy friends.