This is going to be super stupid but when I watched Gurren Lagann.

That show is dumb. It's so super dumb, it makes no sense, and I'd be embarrassed if anyone but my closest friends saw me watching it.

But I watched it in a very stressful moment of my life, which was Senior year of High school. I was sick of everyone, I was even more cynical than I am now, and I had a very low opinion of myself.

My friends and I watched Gurren Lagann while we were hanging out at my high-school after-midnight for two days, cramming for projects and the grand digital arts exam. Every hour we'd take a break and watch an episode. It's probably the most bonding moment I've ever had, watching a bunch of robots punch each other in the face. Our group of friends call ourselves the Gurren Brigade, and we all have spiral necklaces and make references to it all the time. We've been friends since middle-school and that show made our friendship stronger.

Beyond that, it was a confidence booster, too. It was an over-the-top portrayal of the hero's journey that I needed at that point in my life. I still go back to this scene when I need a pick-me-up:

I mean man, just watching it I know how stupid it is but I feel like I can take on the world after seeing it.

It will never make sense to anyone but us, but I'm okay with that.