Opinion Columnist
Go on an epic adventure with the very real and the somewhat mystic.
“Kid, I’ve flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I’ve seen a lot of strange stuff, but I’ve never seen anything to make me believe there’s one all-powerful force controlling everything. There’s no mystical energy field that controls my destiny.” – Hans Solo
I’m penning this column on May 4, also known as May the Fourth, or Star Wars Day, a special holiday for me.
My brother texted me a “happy holidays,” and my girlfriend donned Princess Leia-style double-buns for a bagels and coffee date.
She got some weird looks, but it was a fantastic start to a weekend.
I have two Star Wars marathons a year, and May 4 is one of them.
The prequels are thrashed more than they deserve, but for me, all six of the movies tug up some awesome memories, great themes and very real feelings.
As a monstrous nerd, some of my best video game experiences have been with Star Wars games. The original Knights of the Old Republic rivals any movie in terms of epic stories, and I keep in touch with friends I made in the now defunct Star Wars Galaxies.
It also helped raise me with decent morals and has given me a significant amount of inspiration.
“Do or do not. There is no try,” Yoda said.
“Strike me down, and I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine,” said Obi Wan.
Those are two Twitter-worthy, I-have-a-massive-chip-on-my-shoulder quotes that can get you through a day.
Han’s response to Leia before he is frozen in carbonite is one of the most classic nerdy love moments there is.
Star Wars also helped me get through the toughest moment of my life.
My dad passed away suddenly when I was 13. Already going through the most confusing pubescent years of my life, things like death and the aftermath of death really didn’t compute.
My brother and mom cried, and I felt bad for not crying. I was numb, depressed, and crying wasn’t really a response that felt right.
I became distant and withdrawn from everything around me. As lame as it sounds, Star Wars brought me back.
An escape with an absolutely enthralling fictional universe and all the movies, books and video games allowed me to come to terms with my feelings of loss. It gave me a medium to deal with the feelings without feeling overwhelmed.
As we all get older, death and loss are inevitable. In my 22 years, I’ve lost friends and family members and seen my friends lose the same.
I’ve also seen the results when people can’t come to terms with death.
May 4 is a special day to me, and it also reminds me of a time when I needed an escape. I urge you to find an arena of your own, whatever it is, to deal with the immense tragedies that life holds.
If you can find a way to move on from the terrible, depressing things, it makes the amazing moments in your life that much better.
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