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  Let me start this off by saying that it doesn't matter how good at a game you are. If you're playing in a way that makes you happy, then you're doing it right. I've been playing Minecraft since 2012. I had seen a few people play it and had my heart set on getting it myself one day. I started out on Pocket Edition back before Endermen were even a thing on there. On my first night, I saw what looked like an angel. It wasn't until I got closer that I realized it was a skeleton and that that skeleton was not my friend. I proceeded to cower in a square dirt house on the beach every night after that. This may not seem relevant now, but it will be later.

  Fast forward to present day. I am by no means a master at Minecraft. I wouldn't consider myself that bad though either. I have my strong suits and weak points. I can't speed run the game to the end. If I'm being honest, I've haven't actually gotten there in a vanilla, no-cheats survival world yet. Often times, I don't even go to the nether. It's not because I'm "just that bad". I simply never get to around to it. I prefer to take my time. A lot of time. I scout out the perfect place to build my home. No, it's not a base. It's a home. I begin by gathering the materials for my perfect cottage by the bay, mansion on a hill, or little hut in the woods. The first nights are always a struggle because I don't bother making a bed. I'm too busy collecting gravel and sand for my concrete walls and dark oak for my roof. I have already daydreamed about the house I will build while I was at work the other day and nothing will stop me from building it.

  By the time I have complete the basis of my home, I will usually have obtained some iron on a mining trip, but not a whole lot more. So, I'll gather some food and set out on my second mining trip. If I'm feeling adventurous I'll leave the difficulty set to normal. If I'm looking to destress (since I'm stressed out 99% of the time, I hate you, anxiety) I'll go to peaceful and enjoy journey. Chances are I won't obtain any diamonds. If I do, it'll be about 4. Why? I get bored by then. I don't enjoy the grind of the mine. I am capable of obtaining the precious gem, but I don't want to. It's not worth my time.

  Now back in the comfort of what I'm proud to call my home, I'll start gathering more miscellaneous resources and get some farms built up. My farms won't be expansive or full automated, but they will get the job done. I will have plenty of the things I need. I will have a lot of cows, a small flock of chickens, and a herd of rainbow sheep. Yes, one of every possible color of sheep. Why? Because I want to. No, I don't need it. No, it doesn't serve a purpose, but you know what? I like it. I'll also go in search of a donkey and horse so I can have my beloved mule. I'll also wrangle up some foxes, grab a doggo or two, tame a couple cats, maybe catch some tropical fish, and round up a turtle or panda if I'm feelin' it. My end goal is to have one of every pet. Whether you can tame it or not. Which is why I only ever have one pig. I have no use for pigs, but I need one. You can't forget the iron and snow golems though. They get their own safe places away from the mobs so they don't get hurt. If my iron golem does get hurt though, he can have all my iron. Even if it's my last because I love all my pets.

  I won't continue on because I'm sure you get it by now. I don't play like a typical Minecrafter. I do it slowly. I do things that serve no purpose. It makes me happy though. If I rushed the end and "completed" the game. Would I be happy? No, I'd feel like I have nothing left to do. I'd play for a few days and then quit. So, I don't. I play at my own pace. I spend weeks or months in a world. I never complete it, but I enjoy every minute of it.

  Due to this though, I often find myself being mocked for my "lack of skills" and inadequacies. Sometimes as a joke, but also as actual insults. Usually I brush it off, but it's not always that easy to forget about. It's especially difficult, when I play with my friends and see them get to the end by day 3 and I'm just barely getting diamond. It makes me feel inferior, stupid, and, often times, alone. No, I'm not saying they should wait and slow down for me. It's just how it is. I just wish my play style wasn't made out to be "bad". Don't get my wrong. I like playing with my friends. They are great people. I love them. I just can't help but feel left behind when it comes to my skills at the game. I hadn't really thought about it until lately that it could be due to having a different playstyle and not a general lack of skills in the game. And you know what? It makes a lot of sense to me. I'm not bad at the game. In fact, I dare say I'm awesome at it because I have fun and that's what games are for. Not all games are about competition. It's okay if they are, but they don't have to be and no one should feel bad if they're not into that. Especially if you play to relax or escape the stresses of reality.

  In conclusion, there are a lot of things I still don't know about a game I've played for 8+ years, but that's okay. I'm still encountering skeletons. I'm still learning. Everybody meets skeletons. We can't all be pros from the start. That's how it should be. A big part of what makes a game great is getting to discover all the new and exciting things you haven't seen yet. So, if you're still spotting angels, know that you're not alone and that there is not shame in that. Play at your own pace. Don't pay attention to what the haters say. It's you playstyle. Own it.




Some end notes:


  I wrote this in a moment of inspiration. So, it's not exactly cohesive. I know. I'm also not a writer. I have made a few poems, but English and writing skills are not my strong suits. I don't want to change it though because of the emotion and thought that originally went behind it. I decided to make this a blog post so that others like me could see this and hopefully not be ashamed for having fun. I also want the people who make fun of those people to see this in hopes that it gives them a new perspective and so that the words they speak may be kinder. This might all seem dramatic, but how can you inspire change, even if it's a small one, if you don't reach out to other's emotions?

  Please feel free to comment your own experiences and play styles. I'd love to hear from others going through the same internal struggles and I want to hear about the quirky, unnecessary thing you like to do in your survival worlds! Thank you so much for reading, have a wonderful day. I truly mean it. <3