I’m not entirely sure the title makes sense and I know this is quite random and different to what I usually share. However, I’ve been classing myself within this category for around 6 years now and I was having one of those soppy moments the other day and came to realise how much this hobby has brought into my life. As much as I simply love rollercoasters and themed attractions there is so much more to what I’ve gained personally that perhaps doesn’t get spoken about enough. Therefore I thought I’d write this little post and share it with you guys, sorry to those who follow me purely for themed attraction related content only but I hope you enjoy it.
Friends:
One of the last things I ever expected to gain from this hobby was friends I class as a family but that’s exactly what it has brought me. I’ve met so many incredible people over the years some of which I’ve lost touch with or don’t speak to anymore yet they were also a huge part of my journey and I’ll forever be grateful. But I have some incredible people in my life that I have met purely through the passion we share for theme parks and beer (looking at you Springy Tales & John)! I adore so many people that I have met over the years and I feel so lucky to call them my friends.
Opportunities:
Genuinely the last thing I ever expected was to be invited to events, becoming a merlin annual pass collaborator, featuring on Drayton Manor’s guest blogger of the month, interviewing ride manufacturers and theme parks. It all feels so bizarre to me and I can’t begin to express how humbled and grateful I am for even being considered for any of the things I have/am a part of. I never planned on blogging until 3 years after accepting this as a hobby and even then I was an anxious mess when sharing my first post and never expected 1 person to read my posts yet here I am 3 years later and feeling incredibly lucky and honoured for all I have experienced. So, thank you to each of you that’s helped me come so far and every single park that has given me a chance!
Memories:
Honestly, I could sit and waffle on about all the memories that have been made purely through this hobby. I have so many photo albums under our bed filled with memories. It’s so nice to escape to theme parks with our families too and create memories with them that we will cherish for a lifetime.
Understanding Myself and My Mental Health:
I really began to understand myself through this hobby. I came to realise who I was and what I truly loved after years of not really knowing who I was. It has helped me grow in confidence and take leaps into directions I never thought would be possible. Finding people who also suffer the same as me has really helped me figure out my struggles with mental health. I’ll never forget the moment it really sunk in about what I was struggling from and it all came from John’s video (LINK HERE) a few years back and I was just listening and it was all hitting home on how I also struggle. After that moment I went to the doctors and got diagnosed and gained one of my closest friends from it too. 
Travelling:
Acknowledging my love for theme parks also sparked a love for travelling too. It has opened my eyes to there is more to life than the same old places as nice as they are. We now have a closed season planned for sightseeing across the UK (assume COVID doesn’t have other plans). I’m very excited to see more sights that the UK has to offer. I have also had the chance to see some of the places I never had much interest in visiting beforehand and really have a new appreciation for non-theme park places to visit too. 
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I could spend the entire day writing all the things I am grateful for thanks to this hobby of mine. But I won’t lie this post would turn into a book. I’d love to hear what your grateful for becoming an enthusiast in the comments or across our socials.
Thank you for reading…
