Indiana Jones and The Foundation of My Youth

I cannot recall a chapter or moment in my life, in which art has not been a vital part. Ever since I read the first Lord of the Rings book, watched Aladdin in theaters, and played The Legend of Zelda on my Gameboy for the first time, it continues to play a tremendous role in my life. So much so that I’m hesitant to trivialize these mediums as simple escapist fantasies. Without a doubt, that’s what they can be, a refuge or safe haven for people like me who sometimes struggle to find their place in this mad, mad world.
However, some of the books I’ve read, movies I’ve watched, and games I’ve played go beyond this label. They have helped me cope with the bad times as well as given me the strength and confidence to do what I felt was necessary to lead the life of my choice.

The Lost Magic of Childhood [Poem]

I may have lost some of my magic.
The wild imagination of a child,
the curiosity and creativity
of someone with bright, open eyes.
A time of innocence and naiveté,
of optimism and heroism,
of fellowships and houses.
Much of it lost on the path towards adulthood.