“Do you like Pokémon?”

Those were the words that not only forged an everlasting friendship to which I still hold dear, but also made me who I am today.

I know what you’re thinking and I understand that it may sound silly, but just as we all have that special place in our heart that can only be filled by some childish wonder; it just so happens that mine is Pikachu-shaped. You see, I grew up with Pokémon. I remember the day my mom bought us our first Gameboy; I remember popping in that ruby coated cartridge and making one of the hardest decisions of my life when choosing my first starter. I was there for every breathtaking battle, so passionate the victory; I was there for every nail-biting challenge, so painful the loss. Everyone I encountered was always so supportive; I still remember my fondest sleepover as I watched my best friend catch his first legendary. We must have stayed up for hours trying to cram that monster into a Poké Ball. Even my parents, who knew next nothing about the game, always managed to find time out of their busy weeks to drive me around and help me collect the seemingly endless amount of cards. If there was ever a fandom more influential to me than anything else, it was Pokémon.

Now that’s great and all, but why write about this? Well, my past articles have been about appreciating the world and nature in general, and now we can do so through a world of imagination! As most of you are aware, just this last week, Nintendo released a new Pokémon game for smart phones. Pokémon Go is an app that allows you to find these pocket monsters in the real world, and catch them; all it takes is walking. Are you looking for a way to up the steps on your Fitbit? Then this game is for you! Though it was only released days ago, I have met a grand total of at least ten people through this app. You can travel through the forest, relax on the beach, or even take a walk around your neighborhood and you’re bound to meet a fellow trainer. Wishing you could get more sun? Well now you have a reason to! Catch fire Pokémon in the heat of summer! Swim I the warm oceans with a Lapras and sunbathe with a Krabby; tend to your garden while the Oddish and Nidorans play. Combine worlds; make this a time in your life that’s truly unforgettable.

If you’re like me and suffer from bouts of anxiety or other mental illnesses, then this is truly a game after your own heart; Pokémon Go gives you that extra push of motivation to leave the quiet comfort of your household. The induced exercise greatly improves stress levels as well as mood and can even be used as a healthy way to briefly escape the problems that plague your thoughts.

There’s something very special this game does though that few games possess the ability to do, and that’s combining worlds, both real and imaginary, into two equally great places. Just as in the Pokémon world, we too have fantastic creatures on Earth. Pokémon, for years, has created a place where every creature is important and I think that’s something we can learn from. Every pocket monster, from the smallest Caterpie to the largest of Wailords holds in it a power and a friendship worth protecting. If people can learn to love bug types, then maybe they can learn to love bugs. If we can stop Team Rocket from poaching Slowpokes, then maybe we can stop real life criminals from poaching rhinos. The Pokemon world is different than our own, yet certain ties link it to ours. Maybe if we can learn to love what is imaginary, we can also learn to love what is real.

It doesn’t matter what age you are when you start your journey. It doesn’t matter what type you favor or what level you may be. It doesn’t even matter how many badges you’ve got pinned to your vest; as long as you’ve got passion in your heart and Poké Balls in your bag, then the world is yours. I write this today not knowing who will read it, or where they may be in life, but regardless, I encourage them to get out there and become the best Pokémon master the world has ever seen. Also, don’t ride your bike inside.