Welcome back to the Nerd Alert News countdown to the “Supernatural” Season 15 premiere. We’ve been sharing the stories of our fans and our writers, and what they’ve learned from ‘Supernatural’ and what the show means to them.
For our fifth submission, we have Emma Haile (@simplyreflected) again, with more of what she has learned.
“I’ve learned things from the show, the characters, and the actors, things that I knew before but didn’t really learn until I watched certain parts of the show or talked to some of the actors.
Fight Your Demons (Physical and Mental)
One lesson that I learned was to fight your demons. I suffer from depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. I’m not ashamed of any of this anymore. The way I see it, what happens inside my head is that the bad thoughts and all the horrible stuff that comes into my head are demons trying to bring me down and to get through it, I have to mentally fight them, the same way Sam and Dean fight the demons and monsters in the show.
Do Not Let Your Past Define You
So another thing I’ve learned is the concept of our pasts not defining us. What this means is that while we all have pasts, whether they be good or bad, don’t let that define where your life will go. I learned this from the ‘Supernatural’ family. I’ve met people in the fandom who have had horrible things happen in their pasts but they kept pushing forward to change their futures, which is one thing I’m trying to do with my life. I’m still fighting and I will keep doing that.
Don’t Be Afraid To Be You
Throughout my time being part of this fandom I’ve learned that it’s ok to be who I am. Rob Benedict, Briana Buckmaster, Lisa Berry, and Kim Rhodes have all taught me this, just by being themselves on stage and by proving that they are proud to be exactly who they are. They inspired me to be who I am and to be proud of it.
We Can All Be Our Own Heroes
This lesson can be learned from different things, but it definitely applies here. Those with mental illness or fighting addiction, this quote means that they fight whatever demons that come their way and that makes them their own heroes. Lots of people fight for different reasons, for me, it’s my depression and suicidal ideation; I am my own hero every day that I don’t give in to those thoughts and every day I fight to find peace so I can be completely happy.
Family Don’t End With Blood
This is one thing that has been proven to me this year when I went through a bad bout of depression and a different one last year in October. It was proven that family isn’t always blood because the people who checked up on me after noticing and hearing a difference when I spoke in person or talked to me online realized I was not the same as I had been. The people who checked up on me have proven to be like family, which I thanked them for.
Another version of this quote is: A wise man once told me, “Family Don’t End with Nlood” but it doesn’t start there either. Family cares about you, not what you can do for them. Family is there, through the good, the bad, all of it. They got your back, even when it hurts. That’s family.
Family shows that they love you. They are there through the good times AND the bad, not just when it’s convenient for them. They don’t just show they care when they need something, they show it all the time. That’s why when I tell my family I love them, they know I mean it.
Don’t Let Anyone Define Your Beauty
This was one of the important lessons I learned while watching SPN was how beauty is within. I learned this from watching Donna and Dean in the Season 9 episode ‘The Purge’. Donna had because of her ex and the words he had said to her had made her feel like she was fat, because he kept saying she loved cookie dough milkshakes more than him. So, in this episode, she goes to a health spa to lose weight, where she runs into undercover Dean and Sam. The point that drove this lesson home was Donna after she explains what her ex told her she loved cookie dough milkshakes more than him and Dean telling her that Doug’s a dick and she deserved better.
I’ve also learned that same lesson from Briana Buckmaster herself who is such a bright light and has treated everyone I’ve seen with love and respect. She may not have said that but she’s taught me how to feel good about my photos and makes me feel good about myself, especially when I can’t see it for myself. I still struggle at times with how I feel about myself.”
For the end of this, I’ll leave you with another quote:
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Written by Emma Haile
