Here's the thing, NEVER apologise for being a fan, never apologise for loving something "too much", never apologise for being enthusiastic and obsessive.
Every TV show you love, every book series you adore, every song you hit repeat on over and over, every painting you stare at, every poster that adorns your wall, every movie that you can watch over and over, they were all someone's hard work. And believe me, as someone that puts a lot of hard work into my books and my world, having someone love it is EVERYTHING.
So don't ever be sorry for crying, for feeling emotions when you meet someone who has brought such wonder to your life, never be embarrassed for getting tongue tied or babbling about how much you love their thing or them personally. Never avoid telling someone your favourite movie they did, because I promise you, they are just human and they will have had doubts and worries the same as we do. They will have had moments when they doubted they were good enough, or when they thought they fucked up with a particular role or song or drawing, but to you, that thing was the most perfect thing ever. It made you feel, it touched you on an emotional level and it means the world to you.
It will mean the world to them to hear it. I know that if someone ran up to me one day in the very distant future and told me that one of my stories gave them the feels, that it made them cry, or made them laugh cheering then up, then I'll be crying with them, because that's the sort of thing EVERYONE needs to hear sometimes, no matter who they are.
When I went to see the Buddy Holly /Roy Orbison hologram show with mum we wanted souvenirs, and asked at the front desk. A very nice man told us that unfortunately they didn't have any as the creators weren't even sure if anyone would want to see it, let alone buy anything. I said how much I loved it and he gave me his VIP pass, he was the co-creator. I cried, I hugged him, I thanked him for giving me the chance to actually see my favourites up on stage when I would never have had the chance before, to see as well as hear Roy singing my nans funeral song. It broke my heart but it brought me joy too. He hugged me back and said how much it meant to him to hear that.
So when you wait in line to see someone at a convention, when you tweet them or comment on their Instagram, when you support them by buying all the things and seeing all the shows, know that you aren't being stupid, you aren't sad, you aren't ridiculous, you are great.
When someone teases you for loving an old show, a kids show, an old musician, a dead painter, an old actor, an athlete, an astronaut, a marine biologist, whatever and whoever you are into, look them dead in the eye and say, well, what do you love? And if they don't love anything as much as you do, don't feel smug, feel pity, because they don't have the kind of fandom family that you do.
Never hide the fact that it inspires you, never be ashamed that you write fan fiction, make fan art, create cosplays, that you create your own wonders because you were inspired by them. Never be ashamed that you love a character, story or scene so much that you just can't stop thinking about it and just have to have more, that you can see it playing out in your head and have to make it reality.
Never be ashamed of what you watch, what you read or what you draw or create, because at least you're doing something. Being creative is what makes us so great, and finding that inspiration can be hard. It's good for us to create, it's healthy for us to use our imaginations and it's good for us to be happy. So do what makes you happy. Why limit your happiness because its not something that everyone else does or thinks is valid? If you love it, it's valid.
I know I'd much rather hang out with people that are passionate and devoted to the things they love, that are unashamed and proud, than sheep that only watch, listen to or do what everyone else is and never lift their heads to proudly proclaim that they are different.
Sorry, that's my long winded pep talk/rant over, continue with your day.
