I too have been an avatar fan from the very beginning. I used to think that fanatic fans were just crazy, but then I found Avatar. I felt like we were meant for each other right away as my birthday is on February 20th, and the show first aired February 21st, 2005. So I always felt a connection with the show, from the start. I remember every time a new episode would air, getting home from school, grabbing a snack, and rushing to my seat to watch Avatar. I didn't care for any other show, just avatar.

I also felt like avatar was meant for me personally. I got bullied a lot in grades k-12. Like kicked in the back down 2 flights of stairs for no reason, the bully caught doing it on camera without be provoked, and I would get suspended from school instead of the bully kind of corruption. So I always felt like I could relate to Aang because I felt like the world was either against me, or on top of me crushing me. Watching Aang deal with his emotions and struggles was a time and a place that I could also cry with him and let mine out.

Avatar was my healing process.

Although i had been to Europe a few times and traveled as a kid because of my dad's job, Avatar still taught me loads about other cultures and beliefs. I was fascinated with the eastern hemisphere culture and the religious view of Buddhism and other beliefs the show talks about like chakras. I appreciated having a show that didn't treat me like a child, but as an adult and taught me what life was like. This was apparent as I felt like I connected with aang, Zuko, and Sokka. Aang because the world was crushing me, Sokka because I could never seem to make or keep friends because of the bullying so I was always trying to make jokes and be funny so people would like me, and Zuko because I felt lonely and banished from my peers and that there was something I was missing that I needed to recover so people would want to be my friend.

So avatar has meant a lot to me. It has given me a fandom and community to be a part of. It has helped me reach out and meet new people and make new friends online that I never thought I would have. It helped me to be more cultured and endure life's hardships. To be more compassionate and patient with other people, even if they wronged me.

Avatar taught me to live.

What about you? How has Avatar touched your life? How has avatar helped you in your life? Do you relate to any of the characters more than others? If you could meet the creators, what would you say to them?