Two year ago today, I woke up in one of the nicest hotels I had ever been with an excitement that is hardly possible to describe: it was LOST finale day and I had been in Los Angeles for almost a week, which was nothing but a dream. But that’s for another post.
While I could hardly wait to see how this TV show, this movement, this mind-blowing story was going to end, I also realized that it was the end of an era for thousands of people. The Lost community had grown so close. We had gotten to know each other so personally.
Adventures We Shared
We had travelled around the world together, met all across the US even as far away from the mainland as Hawai’i. We had made friends with people we’d never ever gotten to know had it not been for this phenomenon. We had shared theories, reviews, laughs, tears, jumping-on-the-couch-screaming with joy or frustration, but we weren’t bored for a minute.
Many of you know my story. Many of you know that Lost has not only changed but saved my life. But nobody can imagine how much this series, this community, this light of hope really means to me.
As I am writing this I have tears streaming down my face wanting to travel back in time, just to have the thrill once more to woke up knowing that the episode that aired the previous night in the US was waiting for me to watch.
I’d shave my head for another episode of Damon and Carlton giving nothing away about their series, but still being highly entertaining on their podcast, which to this day is my favorite podcast ever. I’d love to relive the impatience with which I waited for the newest analysis of Ryan and Jen, Jay and Jack, Stephanie and Cliff Ravenscraft, just to name a few. I’d give anything to experience the excitement before a new episode and wonder what mind-blowing developments creators were going to have in store for us.
How Lost Kept Me Alive
Those podcasts, those moments of forgetting about my troubles during watching Lost, those possibilities of fleeing my horrible reality kept me alive for a long.
When I discovered Lost, or I should say rediscover because I had been watching season 1 in German (which was awful, BTW), I had just tried to commit suicide, had dropped out of school years ago and was in the lowest point of a deep depression. I had no business living, so I thought. I had no energy, no motivation, no perspective.
I lay in bed 24/7, no energy to get up, no energy to even sleep. I was bored out of my mind and that’s when I started watching Lost, searched for podcasts about it and step by step found a way back into life. It was the bickering of Cliff and Stephanie, the sign that there were couples who loved each other, the sarcasm of Jay and Jack, which was exactly my kind of humor and the incredible kindness of Ryan and Jen that gave me the sense that life was worth living.
Over time I got to know all those Losties around the world whom I am now blessed and fortunate enough to call close friends who have gone with me through thick and then (you know who I am talking about). I had been an introvert all of my time of having an eating disorder, terrified of human interactions, almost having a nervous breakdown once the phone rang, but through the common interest in Lost, I found the courage to reach out to people, have a conversation with them and be completely myself for the first time ever.
Why Lost Changes My Life To This Day
Lost got the ball rolling and gave me the hope I so desperately needed. I left my room more often, went for long walks to get my energy back, graduated and even got married and even got rid of my eating disorder.
The tears I cried during the finale of Lost were nothing compared to how much I’ve cried before (and believe me, due to my abusive brother, those were countless). And yet I was the most grateful person in the world on that evening in the Orpheum in LA. I was surrounded by friends, had met Michael Emerson for Christ’s sake and was present at the end of something very, very special that I’ll still tell my grandchildren about.
I don’t know how my life would look like today had I not ordered the first part of Season 2 of Lost on DVD back in 2007 on Amazon. I don’t know if I’d still be alive, still locked up in my room, still lonely and probably crazy by now. What I do know is that there are no words for how much love and appreciation I have for this TV show, this incredible community and everything it has done, not just for me but for people all over the world.
I know I wouldn’t be blogging right now. I know I wouldn’t be podcasting. I know I wouldn’t be an entrepreneur and I am certain I wouldn’t enjoy life as much as I am doing it these days.
And if you ever encounter someone again who tells you TV series are a waste of time, please refer them to this page.
I owe Lost my life.
Thank you for everything.
It changed my life as well. Not so dramatically as your life, but still a lot. It opened my life up to people from across the globe, like you Winnie and others. The first podcast I ever listened to was The Transmission. Now I listen to a good handful. I have made friends and shared my life thanks to a TV Show. There are other shows that come close, Downton Abby & Fringe, but I don’t see another show like LOST coming around for a while.
Thanks for sharing Anne!
Geoff,
That was one of the best things about Lost: getting to know people who not only live in your own country or even continent, but all across the world. Sharing a passion, maybe even an obsession with them is even more special and the connection we all share will forever remain, even if the contact has slowed down a bit since the end of the show.
Anne-Sophie, I am so thankful that we met through the TV Show LOST. I am eternally grateful for our friendship and to even a small part of this amazing journey that you are on. You’ve become quite the source of inspiration to so many others and I’m very proud of you.
As you know, LOST changed my life as well. Starting a podcast about LOST caused me to find my true mission in life which is to Entertain, Educate, Encourage, and Inspire others. Yes, I can and will do all those things through more than just podcasting. However, it was was the LOST community that launched gspn.tv and showed me how powerful the medium of podcasting is when sharing your message and having the ability to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
It’s my hope that there will be more things, like LOST, that will come around and have such a profound, positive impact, on people’s lives all over the world.
Thank you so much, Cliff and right back at you.
I couldn’t imagine you not having creating gspn.tv and everything that involves your brand. Look how far you’ve come since you’ve launched that podcast. You are making a difference on a daily basis and as you know, you and Stephanie have done incredible things for me.
I too am extremely grateful for having such a great relationship wit you. I still remember the first time you mentioned me on one of your podcasts and how excited I was. The journey we’ve been on because of Lost is sometimes hard to believe.
I am not sure if there’ll be ever another show like Lost, but life has changed so much that I am not sure I need it. LOL
What an amazing journey you’ve been on. Life is worth clinging to, even when you have no more strength to hold on. Lost came along, grabbed us like The Smoke Monster, and would not let us go. I found that the world surrounding LOST; the ARG’s, podcasts, and various fan sites made the show come alive, all year round. Thank you LOST, and the fans around the world for making life, a better place to be.
Hi,
thanks for commenting. Yes, life is worth clinging on to if you have a reason and Lost and this incredible community thankfully happened to come along to be my life vest. I love your Smokey analogy as it describes exactly what Lost did to us. I agree that the fans and everything around the weekly shows made come alive even more and made it all the more special. 🙂
I am thankful to LOST for many things as well, Anne – and you are definitely high on that list. I feel honored to count you as a friend….just as the show taught us, we are connected forever even when we aren’t physically together 🙂
love you!
xoxo
a
Alison,
your loving heart, your kind spirit and your beautiful smile have carried me through many dark days. I love you always and yes, even though we are thousands of miles apart, we’re deeply connected.
Anne-Sophie, thanks for creating that video montage and for this post. I agree with everything you mentioned. In many ways, LOST came at the perfect time (perfect time in our lives, perfect time in relation to the explosion of Social Media and Podcasting, etc).
I don’t see LOST being touched by other shows, not only in it’s excellent stories and acting, but also in how many lives it has changed.
Wayne
Wayne,
I agree with you. I don’t think there’ll ever be anything like Lost and its community creating nature. Fringe is great and Once upon a time too, but nothing compared to Lost. I am just glad we had Lost and I have people like you in my life now. 🙂
Lost definitely changed my life. I’m so happy that I got to add you to the list of wonderful friendships I made as a result. xoxo
Colleen,
I remember the first time I met you and I was starstruck. I saw you as a role model and a girl who was in the inner circle of all those cool Lost podcasters. 🙂 I will forever be grateful for how kind and loving you welcomed me into your life.
I don’t know that I can ever express how much the entire Lost experience meant to me. I truly am met with looks of “uh, okay” when I even mention flying out to LA for our finale extravaganza, much less the hours spent weekly listening to podcasts and analyzing theories. Lost couldn’t have been that without all the people I met online & in person that were just as into as I was. I found a true family with everyone. Our time in LA was special, and I hope you know I am *always* here for you: email, facebook or phone, anytime, day or night. I love you dearly and appreciate Lost even more because of what it meant for your life. You are so spectacular and I miss you tons!! We simply must do brunch again soon. 🙂
Love always,
your roomie
Spending the time with you in LA will forever be one of the favorite trips of my life. Meeting you was one of the great benefits of the Lost experience. I hope we can do a sequel very soon. 🙂