Chances are you've seen them in your neighborhood by now: flocks of people wandering the local park or pacing the grocery store parking lot, all with their noses glued to their smartphones. Pokémon Go has swept through the nation in a hurricane of cute little pocket monsters, achieving every Pokémon fan's dream by allowing us to set out on our own real-life Pokémon journeys (well, almost). The app has been such a hit that Nintendo's stocks have risen $9.3 billion in just one week, and it seems there's nowhere to go from here but up. Some reviews of Pokémon Go have been rather mixed, with complaints of server crashes and possible risks to players mingling with the colossal hype that's come out of it. While I have to agree that Pokémon Go is nowhere near perfect—at least not yet—the experiences that I've had with the game so far have been overwhelmingly positive, and the effect it's been having on people everywhere has been an amazing breath of fresh air that I think the whole country has needed.

One of the best aspects of Pokémon Go I've found is its irresistible incentive to get players outside. I'm the kind of person who is most content squashed into one corner of the couch, fiddling with my laptop from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. Since Pokémon Go was released, I've spent at least a few hours outside every day, sometimes walking several miles in my quest to capture Pokémon. I've seen more sunshine this past week than I had during my entire summer vacation so far, and I know my parents are thrilled that I've begun to abandon my couch potato ways. Judging by how many other people my age are scoping out my hometown, I'm certainly not the only hermit who's come out of hiding. The other day my mom drove me to the Poké Stop at our local park, where a crowd of at least 20 Pokémon trainers had gathered around a lure module. While I waited for whatever elusive Pokémon would come to investigate the commotion, my mom remarked that she had never seen so many teenagers in our neighborhood before. I had to agree with her - until Pokémon Go came out, I could have been the only college student on our street and I wouldn't have known the difference.

All of this Poké-hunting in the great outdoors also lends itself to meeting all sorts of new people, from small children to middle-aged, die-hard Pokémon fans and everyone in-between. Whenever I pay a visit to the library or another local hot spot for Pokémon, hordes of players are already there, shouting to each other and rallying around their teams as they squabble over the nearest gyms. Two of my friends and I were out for a walk last Wednesday when we ran into a pair of young boys, and we battled with them over a park gym for so long that it swapped teams four times. When we parted ways, the boys rode off on their bikes together, introducing themselves as they joined forces on their Pokémon search. Every Pokémon trainer I've met so far has been incredibly kind, offering help in finding some of the rarer catches or providing friendly competition. This app has brought my community together in ways little else has before, and I'm amazed at the sense of camaraderie that's come from something as simple as a mutual love for Pokémon.

Now my absolute favorite part of Pokémon Go is just how happy it makes everyone who plays it. The people I meet are always smiling and laughing. My friends and I cheer for each other whenever we manage to catch a new pal. Entire crowds perk up and start to buzz with excitement every time a rare Pokémon comes to party with us. People across social media have even been talking about how Pokémon Go is improving their mental health, giving them the confidence to go out and talk to other Pokémon trainers when their depression or anxiety would have otherwise kept them in their homes. With all the global turmoil and heartbreak that has come out of this year so far, I think Pokémon Go is a little spot of joy that we've all desperately needed in our lives. It's a game unlike anything I've ever experienced before, and I love to see how much it's been helping people everywhere in just its first week on the market.

So, if you ask me, Pokémon Go is worth every ounce of hype it's gotten so far. I encourage everyone who has access to the app to give it a try. There are a few safety concerns all players should be aware of: paying attention to where you're walking is essential, lest you get eaten by a Gyarados or hit by a car. It's also a good idea to Poké-hunt in groups, rather than alone, as any Team Rocket types lurking around are less likely to target a gaggle of people than one lonely soul with their smartphone out. Staying in well-populated, well-lit areas is important too, as there have been reports of robberies at secluded Poké Stops where victims were drawn in by lure modules. Finally, as with texting, never try to Poké-hunt and drive at the same time. That's a disaster waiting to happen, and not even Mewtwo is worth a car accident.

With all this in mind, I send you off, dear readers. Travel across the land, search far and wide, and catch all the Pokémon you can. You'll be a master before you know it.