Healing vs. Escapism
The beautiful part about this blog is that I always expect no one to see it. It's a pleasant surprise when someone does, but assuming no one will lets me speak (type) freely.
If by some chance you've been here before, you may know that I'm into game development. You may also know that my brain is fairly dysfunctional at times.
Depression, anxiety, maybe even a pinch of PTSD. I'm ok though. Well... I've been worse. I have meds & help; I'm not trying to garner sympathy... I'm just trying to set up the topic of escapism.
Escapism. It's a thing I'm into.
It's why I named my game studio Escape Element. I hope to provide an element of Escape to people who really need it. Video games have done that for me.
So, while escapism may get a bad rap, I see it as a vital tool. Surely one that can be overused. But I believe it can be healthy. I know it can be necessary.
Which brings me to my larger point, I believe escapism can be healing. Productive even. I do realize it can be the opposite. Hear me out...
I'm not talking specifically about games, but since that's kind of my thing let me get that out of the way.
I love playing games. And in the immediate sense, they can absolutely be healing. When you have a bad day the right game, the right story, the right experience can lift your mood.
Done well, games can be healing in the longer term. Games are made by people, for people. We see ourselves in the characters and stories. We notice things in familiar situations as an observer that we miss in our own lives. Watching a character you've grown to love, heal... can be healing.
But the real magic happens when you have your triage level Escape elements like video games, and also a longer term escape where in you create something. A craft.
Craftsmanship is magic. You don't have to be particularly good at it. You just have to love it and be able to lose yourself in it. And at the end see progress towards your efforts creating something real.
Game development has been that for me. Over the past year it has been in an escape when the world was too much, and an empowering reminder that you can add something of value to the world.
I cannot recommend enough, finding a creative hobby. It can be anything. Music, art, poetry, woodworking, gardening, blacksmithing...
I've personally spent time with many of those. And that's they key. Try things out. If blacksmithing sounds interesting, take a class or two. I did. It was awesome. It ultimately wasn't my craft, but I'm glad that I did it.
Eventually you'll land on the thing that speaks to you. The thing you can lose yourself in for hours, and still not be able to stop thinking about. The thing that comforts you when you need it, and lifts you up when you look at your progress.
Go Hobby surfing.
Try things out.
Find a craft.
Escape.