5 years ago (How I became a Brony)

It was a dark autumn morning... My room was cold because of a draft from the window. I could hear somebody talking. Mom and dad had woken up quite early, even for them. I knew this was no ordinary day. My dad was about to go to dangerous surgery that would not only change his life forever. Everybody was worried sick. There was a real chance he might not make it back to us. My mom left to support him, leaving the home for me. I was supposed to get the mail and keep the house warm. She didn't know how long she would be gone but estimated roughly 7 days.

Back then, I was pretty much always sad and depressed and couldn't find anything to joy in life. I had my own problems to deal with. I, too, had gone through a surgery quite recently. It was really scary to think that dad's operation was much more difficult and dangerous.

The door closed and I watched from the window as my parents left. A very heavy and depressing feeling overtook my body again. I felt like there was a flaming anvil on my chest. I didn't know what to do. After walking around the house for a while, I decided to go on my laptop. However, I couldn't focus on anything I tried.

Then, I thought I'd watch a movie on Netflix. As I was logging in, a random thought came to my mind. Like a person next to me, it suggested. "Why don't you watch My Little Pony?"

At first, I was quite shocked by the thought. I had never, ever watched or even seen the show in my entire life. I didn't know the first thing about it. How did I suddenly come up with an idea to watch it? Wasn't it kids show for girls? I mean, I was a grown man. I never watched anything like that.

Usually, I chose action movies with little to no plot where blood, bullets, and intestines splattered all around, but ponies? The more I thought about it, the less I wanted to watch any action movies. I searched for My Little Pony. Much to my surprise, the show was actually on our Netflix too. Only season 2 and 3, but still. I would do anything to get my mind off from all the sad things. And it's not like it's going to matter where I start anyway, I will probably not watch more than one or two episodes if I don't like it.

Hovering above the first episode, I swallowed, like I was going to do something prohibited. I would have probably looked around had I not been completely alone... Just one episode. Nobody will ever need to know, right?

*Click*

And here I am today... 5 years later. That one click has really changed my life in so many ways. To be honest, I don't know if I would even be here had I never found the show. What was that voice inside my head and where it came from? I have no idea. Was it the best thing that has ever happened to me? Absolutely. And yes, I actually started watching from season 2, but quickly went back to find season 1 and proceed from there. I literally watched all available seasons in that one short week. I remember my mom calling and asking if it was okay if she came home already, but I said I wanted to be alone for a couple more days... Little did she know my reasons for that, hehe. I had to contain myself and sound somewhat depressed. I was enjoying the show so much that I was literally glowing. I had found something I didn't know I needed in my life so badly. I was happy, excited and couldn't wait for more seasons to come. If she saw me like that back then, she would have probably called somebody to pick me up. It was nothing like me.

Soon after that, I went back to my own home and stayed there for a while, exploring my new precious find in many different ways. The music, the art, the stories, the show itself... I can't even start to tell how much I love it all and how much it still means to me after all these years.

Yes, I may be late to the party, but the content this fandom has created is not going to disappear anytime soon. And I will still enjoy it long after it's gone. It is an important part of my life and I need a dose of it every now and then. Let it be just an animation, a picture, a song or a story, Equestria has always a special place in my heart.