I used to have such a simple life. I could walk to class in a (somewhat) timely manner and go to the grocery store and be in and out with my groceries. However, on July 6, 2016, my life changed forever. I downloaded Pokémon GO.

For those of you reading this who do not know what Pokémon GO is, what rock do you live under? Pokémon GO is an app that was recently released that lets you catch pokémon in real life. However, the app requires you to walk around and get exercise in order to catch the pokémon. Props to the creators of Pokémon GO for creating a game that requires actual activity versus sitting on a couch using your thumbs, but this game has completely ruined my life.

I first realized that I had a problem when I went to Walmart after I downloaded Pokémon GO. I had walked into the store to buy groceries but got super distracted trying to catch a Weedle. I roamed around Walmart for two extra hours. I left the store with half the items I went in there for, but I did not even notice because I was on a pokéhigh, as I caught seven new pokémon. I realized I had a severe addiction when I went to class for the first time after downloading the app. Normally, the walk I take to class takes 15 minutes. However, thanks to the Pokémon GO addiction I have developed, it took 30 minutes. I had to stop at all of the pokéstops around campus. I physically could not resist myself from catching every single pokémon I encountered on my way to class.

The moment I realized Pokémon GO had ruined my life occurred on July 12, 2016. I was laying in bed after I had finished my nightly walk around campus to catch pokémon and stumbled upon something intriguing on Facebook. One of my friends had shared a link to a Craigslist ad. The ad was a woman who charged $20 an hour to take over your Pokémon GO account and catch pokémon for you while you are at work, in class, etc. Normally, I would have laughed and thought it was funny that someone was taking a game that seriously. However, I thoroughly considered contacting this woman. That is when I knew I needed to seek help.

Pokémon GO ruined my life in six days. I am recovering from my addiction and will be back to normal very soon. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” The person I used to be was addicted to Pokémon GO and lived to catch rare pokémon. However, the person I am deciding to be is not going to live for pokémon, but live for the moments in life that do not happen on an app on my phone. I will still play Pokémon GO, but I am not obsessing over it anymore. Pokémon will forever be in my heart, but will no longer control my life.