What is Second Life Anyways? By Shannan Tandino

 

What is Second Life…Anyways?

By Shannan Tandino

This question takes me back to a time a long, long time ago, ancient years really. No cell phones, no smart tv’s, no internet, no virtual reality…

I was 19 years old, a single teen mom, scared and lonely. All my friends were still doing KID stuff and I had a KID. Then a friend called and with one statement changed the course of my life and 30 years later I am still on the path that that one statement started for me. The statement: “There is this thing on the computer, you can talk to people on it.” That was the beginning stages of my life online, looking for love (at times in all the wrong places) and security. Which years later led me to Second Life and to my Happily Ever After.

So back to… What Is Second Life Anyways?... The simple answer, it is a Virtual Life – a Second Life. What does that mean? Well that depends on you, what your goals are, what your interests are. Honestly, also how broken you are figures into the question, What Is Second Life Anyways? Everyone has walked a different path than others, and what Second Life offers EVERYONE is the ability to change your life, even just for a SECOND.

What if you’re disabled and on your “bucket-list” is to jump out of a plane – Second Life can make that happen. What if you want to explore an alternative lifestyle but are scared to come out in real life – Second Life can allow you to learn who you are, without fear.

Yes, there is an adult side to Second Life. Second Life is no different than real life. You give a brand-new world to people and allow them to create whatever they want – they are going to create fun ways to have sex. Now what you might find fun, might not what I find fun… but, really, isn’t that the exciting part… everyone gets to find their way to explore and live in Second Life.

So, let’s circle back to that pesky question… What Is Second Life Anyways?

For me, it has been so many things. It has been my escape, my happiness, my sadness, my career, my fun, my love, my anger, my safe place, my surprise, my addiction, my destruction, my healing.

I started Second Life 16 years ago, I was married with 3 kids. I wasn’t happy, I wasn’t loved, and I wasn’t in love (just didn’t know it at the time.) I quickly found friendship. I found ADULT conversation (and I don’t mean sexual) I mean NOT go take a shower, do your homework, you’re grounded, get off the phone. I was asked “How are you?” for the first time, in I don’t even remember.

A little bit of husband cheating here and a little bit of my husband cheating there, led me to him… that guy who is new, exciting, and shiny. That guy who whispers all the things you have been needing and wanting to hear. We partnered for 2 years, and he was and is dear to me. He taught me that the marriage I was in, wasn’t working. He taught me I am strong enough to stand up for myself in Second Life and in Real Life, so I promptly asked for a divorce and broke up with him (he was RL married).

After a few seasons passed… and I woke up realizing that one of those people… one of those who was always there, one of the first people I met and would care to hear the answer to, “How are you?” One of my first true friends in Second Life…  Well, he was my destiny, he was My Forever.

Now I am back in Second Life after about 12 years off, married in Second Life and Real Life to that guy who cared to listen to the answer.

So again… What Is Second Life Anyways… It is what you make of it, just like Real Life.