Close At Heart

Nerdfighteria is a constant reminder that even when I feel like I'm alone...I'm not. We might be separated by distance (miles and miles of distance. sometimes there's an ocean involved) but we're close at heart. And that's what really matters.

Tonight I was reminded of this fact upon coming home to spend my Friday night as many grad students do...reading, research, and writing.

(and before anyone says anything about me taking time to write a blog entry when I should be doing one of those three things instead, I did just finish my reading for my history class, as well as figuring out my answers for the discussion questions for the discussion I'm leading on Monday. So this is a study break.)

As I worked my way through my reading, my Facebook messenger went off, indicating that I had a message in the group chat I've been a part of for the past few weeks. The small group of us met this past summer through nerdfighteria. We come from all walks of life...and from all over the world. Yet we were united by this common theme: we're all nerds. But it's more than that. We're the kind of people who want to help make the world a better place...to "decrease worldsuck" as John and Hank Green say. We're all members of such a larger community of people...but fate somehow brought this small group of nerdfighters together.

Upon checking the Facebook message, I saw that one of the girls in the group was having a pretty bad night. She happens to be one of the few nerdfighters I know in person, and she actually lives fairly close to me. I offered for her to come up and hang out with me (which she ultimately did not do because it's late and it's an hour long drive) and immediately, everyone else in the chat began to encourage her to go....and just the amount of love and support pouring out of the chat in that moment made me love nerdfighteria even more.

It's nice to be reminded that even on days when things seem to be falling apart...either in my life, or in the lives of my friends...that we have this common thing to come to. We have each other. And even though having each other means sending e-hugs and simply being there to listen to each other...that's sometimes all you need. This wonderful group of people have taught me so much about myself and helped me to become a much better version of myself.

Ultimately...this is a huge thank you to anyone and everyone who I have met through this community. There are FAR TOO MANY OF YOU TO NAME. So I won't try. But seriously. Thank you.

And to those of you reading who have no idea what nerdfighteria is...or who aren't a part of it... go search for the vlogbrothers on Youtube. Your life might just be changed forever.