I don’t know if ya’ll saw the earth-shattering news that came out this past week, but it has shaken me to my core. It’s something so momentous … so iconic … so incredible, that everyone took notice.

My Chemical Romance is back.

That’s right—the kings of emo-pop-punk are back on their throne as the saviors of the broken, the beaten and the damned. Every kid that had an emo phase in the early 2000s are breaking out the hair dye, eyeliner and practicing their best march so they can join the Black Parade. Get in your 2004 VW Jetta, plug in the aux cord, and turn Helena up to 11 on your way to grab a Popeyes Chicken Sandwich (because that’s back, too)!

I searched “emo” in this royalty-free database and came up with these two whipper-snappers filling their lungs with wacky tobaccy that they are definitely not old enough to consume. I do not condone this activity, but needed to post it to the blog f… — I searched “emo” in this royalty-free database and came up with these two whipper-snappers filling their lungs with wacky tobaccy that they are definitely not old enough to consume. I do not condone this activity, but needed to post it to the blog for integrity.

And while being excited for a My Chemical Romance reunion isn’t necessarily cool, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. The fact is: I grew up listening to MCR. Their music, in its sadness masked behind guitars, screams and pop riffs towards the end, still found a way to making an impact on me. I’ll listen to their songs from now until forever, because I enjoy them. I’ll go to their reunion tour because, even though most of their fans don’t look or dress like me, we all are connected through the music.

Have I told some friends and acquaintances about the My Chem return? Yes.
Were they excited like me? No. Was there a tone of judgement in their voice? Yes.

I’ve noticed that I get that a lot. I’m passionate about a lot of things to a nerdy extent, and I talk about these things every chance I get. Whether it is sports, music, video games, wrestling, or anything specific in between, I will blab about it because it is a part of what makes me ME.

Lets talk about the role of replay in sports, followed by our favorite albums of the year, which Pokémon were cut from Sword and Shield, debate AEW vs NXT, and then obsess over season 7 of Letterkenny.

These discussions tend to isolate you from the crowd. Your niche interests are rarely the same as everyone else’s. You become the weird person that other people can’t relate to.

My advice: Forget ‘em. Use the interests that make up who you are to dig a moat and fill that shit with as much water as you can. Use the breath they waste hating on the things you love as air for your floaties, grab a frozen margarita and chill the fuck out. You’re good. If someone doesn’t enjoy the same things as you, that’s their problem. Don’t change a damn thing.

When you build a moat around yourself, everywhere you go is waterfront property. Wave to the haters from the top of your tower.

What I’ve noticed through my 29 years of existence is that the important people will be there for you, no matter what weird stuff you like. And the best parts of life come when you meet that one person that embraces all of your interests, enjoys hearing you talk about them, and even adopts a few for themselves. I found that person for me and married the crap out of her.

I’m not saying that there aren’t negatives to this way of life. At the beginning, it’s lonely. It breaks you down and makes you feel like you’re the only one that cares about any of it. But at the end of the day, it’s better than pretending to be something you’re not.

Strive to be exactly like this girl. She is WORKING IT. She’s got the makeup caked on, looking like a G. She’s posing like a dang superhero, and wearing a shirt that encompasses everything this post is about—love who you are! Be yourself at all cost… — Strive to be exactly like this girl. She is WORKING IT. She’s got the makeup caked on, looking like a G. She’s posing like a dang superhero, and wearing a shirt that encompasses everything this post is about—love who you are! Be yourself at all costs.

In today’s world, niche interests can actually provide you with tons of success. Even though you might not meet anyone that cares about the stuff you do in person, the internet gives you the tools to connect with people like you from across the globe. Join a message board. Start a podcast. You have the opportunity to be embraced by a community of people like you. And if that community doesn’t exist yet? You can create it.

Believe in who you are. Believe that your interests are worthy of discussing. Love whatever you love without apologizing for it. And cut out the people that will tune you out for doing so.

You got this!

Now go listen to Danger Days, because it’s My Chemical Romance’s most underrated album.
(you can skip the interludes if you want)

Be Yourself At All Costs