In the beginning, Castle was everything to me at a time when I had nothing. It was my solid ground when it felt like the world had disappeared. It was my possibility for joy, even on the worst days. I don’t depend on it in the same way that I used to but it’s still an hour a week which reminds me that magic truly does exist; that my life has been touched by something extraordinary. I’ve come a long way from the person I used to be and I don’t know who I would be today without it. To shamelessly borrow Terri Edda’s perfect words, it taught me more more about myself than I knew there was to learn. I will never not be grateful for that. Because of Castle, I learned the value of my life, at a time when I appreciated very little. It showed me that no matter how bad your circumstances, you don’t have to be reduced by them and that no matter how badly I’ve messed up, I can be more than my mistakes. Because of Castle I can look in the mirror without guilt; I’ve learned to like the person I see looking back. It encourages me to be that little bit better every day. Being a part of the Castle fandom extends to everyone. That’s the beauty of it. It doesn’t matter what age, race or religion we are, what languages we speak, whatever walk of life we are from- we all just get along. We've laughed together, we’ve cried together, and when it matters the most we rally together and could move mountains if we tried. Everyone has such massive hearts, and quite honestly, you guys restore my faith in people. Before Castle, I never really belonged anywhere, but I’ve found a home here. I’ve found people who’ve accepted me exactly the way I am, and who helped me to do the same. I’ve found a family. And it is everything.