Wow! It is hard to believe that it has been one whole year since I discovered and fell in love with Outlander. I remember it like it was yesterday. We had Starz free for a couple of days and I noticed the show in the On Demand section. I’m not sure what drew me to it (Was it the buzzing? Maybe?) but I decided to check it out. Needless to say, I was hooked! I started binging it. Then my husband came into the room and started watching it with me. He wanted me to start it from the beginning (don’t mind if I do!). Then it hit…I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I became immersed in all things Outlander.
I went through the Stones
I found myself wanting to go back in time, back to Scotland. I found myself getting tired of the busy life we lead nowadays. Yes times were harder back then but I just get tired of everything that inundates us on a daily basis. I started dreaming of a way to go to Scotland. I wanted to see it’s beauty with my own eyes. Also, I became interested in the production of the show, the cast, everything.
On the daily
I don’t think there is a day that goes by that I don’t think about Outlander and the 18th century. Of course I am a My Peak Challenge participant (read about my journey here) . I am still reading through the books (currently in the middle of ‘Echo’). However, I think once you get into the show, the books and the Outlander culture, it becomes apart of you. The characters become your friends and you want the best for them. It’s just literally a ‘Whole New World’. I can’t wait for Season 4 to start in the Fall and see the Frasers discovering their whole new world!
So what has Outlander taught me? Let me count the ways!
Here are a few…
- How to have a better relationship with my husband– Jamie and Claire’s relationship defies all time and space. Is their relationship perfect? No. Is my husband and mine perfect? Definitely not. But you know what? At the heart of it is what we do to keep it together and intact. Growing up as a Christian, I was taught ‘Save sex for marriage’ and it put the fear of God in me if I didn’t. Once I got married, I was so programmed to stay away from sex that I think it scarred me! After I discovered Outlander, I realized what it is truly meant for. It is for the reconnection of a husband and wife relationship. No matter what life threw at Jamie and Claire, that is how they reconnected. It was a light bulb moment for me! Their relationship also taught me that no relationship is perfect. Life doesn’t always go the way we want it to but as long as we hold on tight to our partner and stay strong in our relationship and faith, we can get through anything life throws at us.
- I realized how much I love history and the 18th Century– Outlander has reignited my love for history and made me realize how much I am pulled towards the 18th century. Yes, I know, it was tough and not like it has been romanticized, but I am still so interested and intrigued by it. Since I discovered Outlander, I have watched the whole series of ‘TURN: Washington Spies’, Poldark and Victoria, gone to Williamsburg twice, visited Gettysburg again (growing up we went there alot on class trips and incidentally my husband and I went there when were dating) and I even applied to be a Part-time costumed tour guide at a local village that encompasses 1740s-1940s living (hmm what does that remind you of??)
- An exercise and nutrition program that works for me- Inadvertently, Outlander has helped me find an ideal exercise and nutrition program that both works for me and works within my budget. My Peak Challenge has been a phenomenal program so far and I’m sure will continue to be. I plan on signing up again next year! Again, read more about my journey here. I have been staying on top of my fitness plan and feeling the best I have felt in 12 years.
- I can make good friends online- After my Outlander obsession started, I began looking for Outlander groups on Facebook. Some how, I discovered ‘Outlander North Carolina’. You didn’t need to be a resident of North Carolina, but they liked to share North Carolina/Outlander related information. If you have been a follower of my blog, you know I love vacationing in North Carolina, so I loved this. Since then, I have made friends with many of the ladies in the group. Also, I have made friends on Instagram through My Peak Challenge.
- I learned more about my family history- Learning more about Scotland pushed me to dig more into my family genealogy. I began researching my family tree and then by Black Friday, I ordered my Ancestry DNA kit. I needed to know if I did have Irish and Scottish blood flowing through me as I had suspected? By Christmas, I found out. I do in fact have Scandinavian (I need to learn how to spell that word correctly without spell check), Irish, Scottish AND gasp! ENGLISH DNA coursing through my body. I was happy! I just chock it up to the fact that I’m Scottish- ha. Through this, I realized why I have so much interest in Ireland, Scotland, England and Scandinavia.
It has been an amazing (yet seemingly long) year since my discovery of Outlander. I honestly don’t know what life would be like if I had not discovered it. It has helped me escape a bit. It has taken me to places I never thought I’d go.
I started my own little Facebook based Outlander group where I update my friends on all things Outlander, since I seem to stay on top of all the new information! I have rediscovered my love of blogging. I am so proud of myself for consistently publishing on this platform. This has led to guest posting on the Outlander North Carolina blog, thanks to my wonderful friend Beth. I am really grateful for the opportunities it has brought and hopefully will continue to bring!
I have to say all this has given me amazing confidence this past year and I am just amazed at what one book/series has allowed me to discover!
Sláinte!
