We’ve all been there: your favorite TV show is finally back from a seemingly never-ending hiatus, or a new book in your favorite series is about to be released and you are nearly bursting with excitement. Not being able to contain your enthusiasm any longer, you start raving to your friends, all of whom respond with blank looks or smiles of feigned enthusiasm.
While it’s certainly not necessary that your friends share all of your interests and obsessions, it can be certainly be upsetting to have no one with which to share your feelings and thoughts about something important to you. Here are some ways to deal with being the odd one out in your friend group and still have someone to share your feelings with.
1. Join an online group
Although you still won’t be able to share your excitement for the new season of Sherlock or the newest Marvel movie in person, sites like Tumblr and Reddit are chock full of fans of everything from The Avengers to The Legend of Zelda. Merely by introducing yourself to these fellow fans, you’ll have thousands of people just as enthusiastic and willing to gossip over your favorite topic as you are. The abundance of GIFs, photosets, and fanfictions that you’ll find along with your new friends is sure to keep you busy and satisfied for a long while.
2. Join or found a club at your school
If you want to be able to have in-person discussions with fellow fans, starting a discussion group or club is always a good option. Chances are that hundreds of other students at your school share similar interests to yours and would be willing to discuss their favorite movie or show as frequently as you are. A Friends fan club probably doesn’t have an existing branch at your campus, but it’s much easier than you’d think to send a quick email to advertise a new club. Even if not many people show up for your group, you’re certain to find at least one person as excited as you are at the prospect of spending hours talking about a single topic. Enthusiasm is like a magnet—other people who share your passion are sure to find you once you take the initiative to share your passion with others.
3. Introduce your friends to your passion
Perhaps a member of your existing friend group would be willing to go down the rabbit hole of ten seasons of Bones with you or sit through the entirety of the Harry Potter films with your added commentary? If so, it’s possible that one of your friends would get as emotionally involved with a show, movie, or idea as you are. If they’re not however, don’t force your opinions onto them, or force them to keep participating in something they’re not interested in. You can still be friends with them, just as you were before, even if they’re not interested in every single thing that you like.
Even if your friends don’t share your enthusiasm for everything that you personally enjoy, don’t worry. There will always be someone who shares your likes and dislikes; it just might take a little longer for you to find them. Once you do though, you’re sure to be fandom friends for life.
Image Credit: News.com.au, My Life in Verse