I've always been the reader and movie-lover in my friend group. The way that stories and characters inspire me to be the best version of myself touches my soul in a way that nothing else does. I was already an imaginative child, but after my family moved across our state, I spent all of middle school connecting with fictional words and characters, so I spoke to relationship expert Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT, for a look at why our bonds with fictional characters are so strong.
I've always been the reader and movie-lover in my friend group. The way that stories and characters inspire me to be the best version of myself touches my soul in a way that nothing else does. I was already an imaginative child, but after my family moved across our state, I spent all of middle school connecting with fictional words and characters, so I spoke to relationship expert Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT, for a look at why our bonds with fictional characters are so strong.
As I aged, I felt like I was growing up with my favorite characters, from The Chronicles of Narnia's Lucy Pevensie to the various superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As someone who's on the quieter side, it's always been inspiring to see characters that are brave under pressure because it makes me feel like I can be brave, too.
"Fictional romances can make us believe that our own romances should look exactly as we see them on the screen," Earnshaw says. "The same with how friendships and family relationships might be represented. But in real life, relationships are more complex and include day-to-day interactions which can't possibly be demonstrated on TV."
With so many shows and movies available, it takes no time at all to fall out of one hyperfixation and into another, but Earnshaw says that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Remind yourself that it's okay to have a fantasy! It is also okay to admire a character. I think it's super important not to have shame around this," she says. "And then, use that admiration and fantasy to consider what it means for your real life — what are you hoping for? What type of connections do you need?"
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Celine Crom from Chatons Orphelins Montréal, a cat rescue in Montreal, Canada, noticed a stray cat wandering around her neighborhood, scrounging for food scraps and seeking shelter.
She started leaving food on her porch. With the temperatures getting very cold outside, she set a humane trap out one night, in hopes of getting the cat to safety
Amongst them, there was a gray kitten who saw Celine's house cat through the door, and was intrigued enough to approach her. She trekked all the way to the door and placed her front paws on the window, trying to peek in.
tabby cat touching person's palm
Photo by The kitten traced the smell of the food into the trap placed on the porch, and was safely captured. That night, she got to sleep inside a warm home, away from the cold and the elements.
Geraldine, a foster volunteer of the rescue, took her in with open arms. She gave the kitten a comfortable room to decompress, and spent lots of time reassuring her that she was safe.
brown tabby kitten lying on white textile
Photo by Celine Crom from Chatons Orphelins Montréal, a cat rescue in Montreal, Canada, noticed a stray cat wandering around her neighborhood, scrounging for food scraps and seeking shelter.
She started leaving food on her porch. With the temperatures getting very cold outside, she set a humane trap out one night, in hopes of getting the cat to safety
Amongst them, there was a gray kitten who saw Celine's house cat through the door, and was intrigued enough to approach her. She trekked all the way to the door and placed her front paws on the window, trying to peek in.
The kitten traced the smell of the food into the trap placed on the porch, and was safely captured. That night, she got to sleep inside a warm home, away from the cold and the elements.
Geraldine, a foster volunteer of the rescue, took her in with open arms. She gave the kitten a comfortable room to decompress, and spent lots of time reassuring her that she was safe.
