Who do we choose to be in this and every moment? How do we choose to live our lives? In my life I have reacted to things and situations and regretted my actions and words, so I wish to address this topic in the Destiny community. Many will say that these sorts of posts have no business being written/posted in this community, but isn’t gaming part of our lives, part of who we are? As such I feel that it’s important to bridge this gap. That perhaps we should incorporate certain aspects of our daily lives into areas that we have chosen to segregate before. Whether we are solo players or avid Raiders, feelings, ideas and thoughts play a role in who we are and how we play and communicate during our sessions. The gaming world has neglected the simple truth that each one of us interact with other human beings with their own lives, experiences, thoughts and beliefs. Many of us couch this and unconsciously interact and in some instances react with one another as if all they are is another character on a screen, sterile and unfeeling. Yes, I have been guilty of this more times than I care to admit but that doesn’t mean I can’t learn or want to do better not only for myself but for the community and the world at large. It can be challenging in the heat the moment, we can forget who we are and who we genuinely choose to be and throw caution to the wind. We lash out at the nearest recipient and often times never expressing remorse or owning up to it. I know that for myself that these sorts of behaviors ate at me constantly. I became someone who justified these actions to the point that I was disappointed and angry at the person I saw looking back at me in the mirror, never realizing that it was within my power to change at any moment. I became a victim of my own making. Throughout my life I have also been guilty of blaming others for my own feelings, actions and words. I wore the “victim suit well to the point where it crippled my every interaction until one day I had had enough and literally walked away from from my old life with just the clothes on my back. I made a choice then and there that this suit was actually a straight jacket. I now live life from a different perspective and with each new encounter, whether it’s with a boss (while gaming or on the job) or with another player, I make a conscious effort to remind myself to act from a place that most genuinely reflects who I want and choose to be deep down. I’m understanding more and more that integrity comes down to the “little” moments in my life. I feel infinitely better about myself and the person I see in the mirror. The victim can show up in many different disguises and I feel it is our responsibility to unmask them all. Yes, there may be things that can influence us however, ultimately we are the ones responding. I feel that it is important we look inside ourselves for the roots of our actions and choices. In my experience, it can be a path of growth that deeply transforms our lives in ways we never thought were possible. I understand all too well that in today’s day and age that tensions are high and many are prone to lash out at the slightest sign of things not meeting our expectations or preferences. I feel that examining and discerning whether these situations/people are truly crossing personal boundaries or that maybe there could be a call to shift perspectives to ones more holistic for communication and or community. This is food for thought and not a judgement. Take it or leave it, I leave that to each one of you. Eyes up Guradians