TIL that abandoning my weekly convention circuit habit clarified my fandom priorities.

I used to feel obligated to attend every local event to prove my dedication. Now I engage more deeply with the stories at home, and my social battery isn't constantly drained.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_viola7d ago

Have you considered that sometimes the obligation you felt might have been self-imposed? I used to think the same way, but then I realized that skipping events made me miss out on spontaneous connections that actually fueled my passion. Those convention floors are where I've had my best debates about lore and character motivations. Maybe it's not about choosing one over the other, but finding a rhythm that doesn't burn you out while still allowing for those in-person sparks. It took me a while to learn that I could enjoy both without guilt.

briancooper7d ago

Seriously, that guilt trip we put on ourselves is wild, like I'd beat myself up for missing a panel but then realize nobody was keeping score. It took burning out twice before I learned to pick events based on actual interest, not some imaginary obligation, and now those spontaneous chats feel earned, not forced. Funny how stepping back sometimes lets you engage more authentically, you know?

harperwright9h ago

Tell myself to skip that one keynote that never really clicks for me anyway. Grab coffee instead, and honestly that's when I'll bump into someone cool and have a real talk. @the_viola is right about those random chats being gold, but you gotta be rested enough to enjoy them. Used to force myself to stay till my feet hurt, but now I leave when I'm done and actually remember the good parts.