For 15 years this show has been a big part of my life. Through high school, college, my first years on the job, suicidal ideations, good times, better times and anything and everything in between, Criminal Minds has been a constant for me. I fell in love with the characters from the very beginning and without them and this show I wouldn’t be who I am today.
As the show comes to a close, I find myself both sad and happy. It’s over, sure, but it brought me so many close friends that I couldn’t imagine my life without. It brought me a love of writing that has included fanfiction and original work. The show made me a writer. It and so many of the OG CM accounts inspired me to start writing and know I consider ‘writer’ as an integral part of who I am. How cool is that? A show and so many of its amazing fans have made me who I am today.
Though the show is over, let the fandom remain dedicated. And always remember:
Spencer Reid taught us its okay for us to embrace who we are in every way, no matter what.
Derek Morgan taught us that our pasts do not define us. What matters is how we conduct ourselves each and every day.
Jennifer Jareau taught us that we can make our lives what we want them to be. Family-oriented, professional, both, it doesn’t matter. We can be who we want to be and are better people because of it.
Emily Prentiss taught us it’s okay to take a step back to find ourselves and it’s okay if your family is the one you’ve chosen rather than the one you were born into.
Penelope Garcia taught us to smile in the face of negativity and adversity. It’s hard and it can rarely be done alone, but it can be done and we’re all the better for it.
David Rossi taught us what it means to family - there for each other through thick and thin.
Tara Lewis taught us to stand tall, drop that ‘weight’ and walk around like the badasses we are.
Luke Alvez taught us the value of friendship and how quickly it can form.
Matt Simmons taught us not to let the poison of our jobs and everyday lives snake their way into precious family time.
Aaron Hotchner taught us to always do what is right, even though it may not be easy.
Tagging a bunch of CM accounts that have made my experience what it is today: @heycasbutt @cherrybombs-and-rabbitholes @thespringpriestess @illegalcerebral @stunudo @remember-me-forever-silent-angel @veroinnumera @brywrites @beautiful-bau-beau @gayreids @girlscrushes @imagine-criminal-minds @ilikepipecleanerswitheyes @hotchnerfuckmeup @kalie-bee @literallyprentissstwin @merlxn-emrys @madamredwrites @naturallytom @notsopersonalcharlie @original-criminal-fanfics @obsessedwithspencerreid @prettyboyeffect @princesswagger16 @reid-fiction @reiding-and-writing @reidreader @rmmalta @spencereidings @spence-imagines @spencerthepipecleaner @toyboxboy @ummspencerreid @wonderboygenius @zugzwangxo @chaotic-fanfics @jockjenniferjareau @itsmeedee @mcuparkers @tenaciousarcadeexpert @marvelfanlife @bucky-smiles @spencescurls @collinsstanharbour @livingtheobsessedlife @bleedreid @hotch-and-reid @tippy06 @wanderlustbynature @comehealinmyarms
