Snowflake Challenge Day#1: A Place that Makes You Happy

[wishingwell44]

 For the first fifteen days of January I want to participate in the Fandom Snowflake Challenge - a place to talk about things in and out of Fandom.

Day #1: Talk about a place that makes you happy.

I have several. I am, by nature, very introverted. I gather my energy by being alone, rather than hanging out with people (but it's not a bad thing!) I just need to recharge, especially after a busy day at work, interacting with patients, I just need space. Additionally, with being introverted, i have a pretty crummy case of social anxiety (online and off) and it takes a lot for me to ask questions, reach out to people - let's just say it's a new years goal to work on it every year.

Place #1: My Apartment

I live in semi-spacious studio currently and when it's quiet and the bars aren't hosting Karaoke, it's just perfect to live in. I'm alone (shocking) so it's just big enough for one person to live. My bed and bath provide the warmth with covers and warm water and a fridge big enough for a one person chef trying to perfect gluten free Chicken Parm.  People do come over, but it's because I allowed them to - it's almost like I'm allowing them into my personal bubble and can allow or deny entry. This is where I do the most writing whether it be in my notebook or on my laptop. No outside distractions. I love it.

Place #2: An empty movie theater



I love seeing movies by myself (not that I don't like to see them with friends!), and treat it as though like I'm taking myself on a date. Everyone always side-eyes me when (or we tend to side-eye at least other people) when I go. Why have a stigma around seeing movies by yourself? Specifically an empty movie theater can allow you to pick the perfect spot (Dead center middle - count the seats and divide by 2 [rows and seat number if there aren't already assigned seats] - you'll get the best sound and picture experience!) I kind of feel like when Steve Rogers is watching himself on the movie screen. 



Place #3: On top of a (Ski) Mountain

I love skiing and have going down the mountain for a long time.The top of the mountain for me is a place of tranquility. A place where I can just let things go and let the wind take them. It's my happy place because I can't go anywhere but down, and face my fears head on. 

Onto Day Two.

Comments

Day 1: happy places

[oldtoadwoman]

Why have a stigma around seeing movies by yourself?

Indeed. I spent a large chunk of my life with this weird assumption that you had to go to the movies with someone. I have no idea where I got that into my head, but I'd go to movies I didn't care about because a friend "needed" a movie buddy. I remember having to negotiate with friends. I really want to see FIlm A but I'm willing to watch Film B but there is no way I will watch Film C and the friend would be dying to see FIlm C, refuse to see A, and so we'd compromise on the film no one really wanted to watch.

Then there was just this one movie that I really wanted to see and no one had the time to coordinate a movie date and it was about to leave the theaters and I really, really wanted to see it (can't even remember which film it was) and so I just said, "Screw this! I'm going by myself!" and I've been going to the movies mostly solo ever since.

Re: Day 1: happy places

[wishingwell44]

The whole coordinating this is so so true. It's such a strange assumption, that we /have/ to go see movies with other people. It's not a bad thing to do one or the other, but freedom to just say 'I want to watch this...so let me see it!' is so freeing.

It'd be interesting to see where the stigma came from, surrounding movie culture (is that even a thing?). I still have trouble going to the movies by myself - there's this weird anxiety that comes with it - that I'll be judged, but I'm trying to grow.

Thank you for your response, and happy film going!

Re: Day 1: happy places

[oldtoadwoman]

there's this weird anxiety that comes with it - that I'll be judged, but I'm trying to grow.
Yes, that sense of being judged is so strong. If I were granted magic wishes, one would be to not worry about what other people think of me, least of all complete strangers in a movie theater.

[przed]

I totally love going to movies alone (and also with friends!) and have never cared if people think it's weird or not. (Fortunately, I've got a lot of cinephile friends who will do the same thing when they like, so it helps to be surrounded by like-minded folk.) I started the habit as a teenager, since I've always been movie-obsessed and would want to see more, and odder, films than my friends wanted to. And yes, there's nothing better than going to a mid-afternoon matinee and having your pick of any seat in the house.

As for skiing, funnily enough I'm at the end of short skiing vacation with my daughter, and went skiing for the second time ever yesterday! (Well, second time downhill skiing. I grew up skiing cross country.) And though the first time (last year) was a bit terrifying, the time I ended up enjoying it a lot more. I'm thinking I might seek out skiing outings a bit more, which my 12-year-old daredevil kid will probably be happy about.