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Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars. Residents can explore the world (known as the grid), meet other residents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities, and create and trade virtual property and services with one another. Second Life is intended for people aged 16 and over, and as of 2011 has about one million active users.
— By Wikipedia

My Second Life began in October 25, 2008.
Before my Second Life; I went 3 years with no friends, family, computer, or phone. I had a car, but really wasn’t able to drive it. I was bound at home with no real purpose but to clean house. I worked at a Dollar General that was about 30-45 minute drive from where we lived. Hubby would always complain about me working, but at that time it was a way for me to get out of the house. I helped him pay his bills (the bills he had before we got married) almost off, when he then renewed his loans to get Christmas money. I never felt so bad in my life. Working those months, 18 hours a week to be washed away with nothing to show for it. I never wanted worked again.
We lived an hour from anyone I knew. It was too much of a drive for friends and family to come see us. I felt lonely. I would get up around 3am to take Hubby to his ride to get to work, which was almost an hour drive there, then have to drive back. I would clean house and tend to the animals we had. Back then we didn’t have Jade. We did get married though.
Hubby finally got a job in the next state, which some of my family was. Now I was anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes away from family. I was able to see family, but still have no car to drive. (The car I did have, Hubby had a wreck and totaled it from falling asleep at the wheel, because his body was not ready for night shift – he is very lucky to be alive. He hit a tree head on, even had to climb out the driver side window).
Also, during this time Hubby wasn’t normal. You never knew he would snap, get outraged, or be “okay”. I made him to go to the doctor. I told him he wasn’t normal and something was not right, haha! Anyway, we did figure out it was his thyroid. (Which he will always be on medication for). Now, don’t get me wrong, he is better than he was! It is like seeing dark to light, but anyway back on track.

I started the game in ’08. I needed something to keep me busy, at this time Jade was about 10 months old. With the game, I had something I could rely on. I had friends, I talked to people on mic (which felt like talking to someone in RL just not in person). I would work “in world”, I could buy clothes (virtual ones, but it still felt nice). For a year on the game I was called a “square“, so I proved I wasn’t. I wished I would have stayed a “square“, but you can’t change everything, you can just change what is going on now.
I built amazing friendships in-game, even one that I will be able to meet Irl very soon 🙂 She lives in Maryland, but I talk to her on the phone now instead of in-game.
I stopped playing my online game March of this year, don’t get me wrong I still log on to check messages, and to “catch up” with friends, but nothing like I use to. I would spend hours and hours on the game, and I knew I had to change if I was going to build any type of relationship with my daughter.Which also, I started to get back to loving myself, and that is where my weight loss journey began.
Do I miss it? Sometimes – I miss knowing all the Top Songs, and the laughs.
Would I do it again? Yeah, but I wouldn’t let it control my life, like I was.
Would I suggest anyone to have a SL? Of course, just watch your limits, and be who you are. Don’t let others talk you into something you wouldn’t do in RL.

• – You can gain friendships, if you are home alone all the time.
• – You can feel normal, and find yourself again when you feel like you no longer know who you are.
• – But it can start to take over your life, so just know you need limits.

Would I suggest this for married couples? Depends on the person. Be a “square” and be proud! Don’t dive to deep with emotions or feelings.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS.
Just remember it is a game, just like Sims, or playing console games, just more interaction with real people on the other side.

I have seen this game almost break marriages.
I have seen this game build awesome friendships.
I have seen this game bring people closer together not just in SL but in RL too.
I have seen this game bring love together from 2 different parts of the world.
I have seen this game destroy “friendships” in-game.
You can make it what you want it, it is what you do that will make or break you.
Just know that eventually everything becomes “repetitive” once you learn most of the things, which takes about 2-3 years to see that haha! Don’t let it become an addiction.
All my words of wisdom 🙂
– Jenna