Relationships and Gaming

Relationships and gaming, whew isn't this always a hot topic.

For those of us who have been raised on gaming or who took to it like fish to water when it came into our lives, gaming is a real and interesting hobby. Just like reading books, gardening, movie watching, or fixing an old car. Those of us who like gaming like it for many reasons, but the main one that  usually stands out is the ability to take action.  You read a book or see a movie in which a bad ass hero used a gun/sword to defeat the bad guy.    Well you may have only watched it or read it elsewhere, but in a video game you get to be the person that does it and in most games these days, or at least the good ones, you choices effect the people in the game around you and the way the story plays out.  That can be very fun and addictive. Yes I said addictive. Just as those of us who also read can get drawn into a book until we've finished or just got the last piece to a car your working on and only can grab two hours of sleep before work. There are things we love that draw us in to them and bring us enjoyment.

Now these hobbies/addictions can cut into some serious time with our significant others. If you are in a relationship where you value your hobby time over the time that you spend with your s/o then you might want to take another look at it and decide if you really are in the right relationship.  It took me a long time to figure this out. Most of the time I have been dating in my life, my hobbies gaming/reading/knitting exiting underwear  have always been way more important to me then my s/o. This should have told me something and it did, though at the time I didn't realize it.

Now I have a wonderful girlfriend who means the world to me and that I plan on marrying one day if this world gives me the slightest bit of chance at doing it. My gaming time has dropped from 40-50 hours a week down to almost 5-10, sometimes even less.  Many people have commented on it, my real life friends have noticed it, my online friends have made comments about it, and I have noticed it. But I have noticed more the change in the relationship that I have, now that I pay more attention to my s/o. It's a world of difference and I like it. Why in the world would someone want to risk loosing someone that makes them this happy over a hobby?

But I won't quit gaming, because gaming is a much a part of me as breathing, eating, or reading a damn good book. But at the same time I will still keep loving my beautiful girlfriend. She makes me more happier then then even being a first to kill a raid boss, finding a super rare item, or finishing a game that took me over 40  hours to beat could ever do.

So keep on gaming strong, I'll be around, maybe not as much as I used to, but blogs on gaming should be present, and my voice shall be heard in the ears of my friends around the world as we blow something up at least once a week. ;)

And when they can't hear my voice, I'll be looking into the eyes of the one who makes me smile and letting her know that I have my eyes on her.  Can you guess what game song I'm hinting at?

And that my friends, is a better ending then any game might give me. :)