I’ve noticed how often I catch myself explaining the things I love, especially when someone else doesn’t understand the appeal.

It can be a movie I love that someone else thinks is terrible, a band I could listen to for hours, or a hobby I enjoy that other people don’t find particularly interesting. Instead of just accepting that we have different tastes, I feel like we start explaining ourselves. We want the other person to understand why we like something, almost as if we need to make a case for it.

But why do we do that? Why does someone else’s opinion sometimes make us feel like we need to defend something we enjoy?

I think part of it comes from wanting to feel understood. I don’t particularly enjoy feeling judged, especially when it comes to something that makes me happy. When someone questions my interests or makes a comment that leaves me feeling silly for liking something, it’s easy to start second-guessing myself.

I’ve always found it interesting how differently people can experience the same things. One person can watch a movie and think it’s the best thing they’ve ever seen, while someone else can’t understand why anyone would enjoy it. We can listen to the same song and have completely different reactions to it. What brings one person comfort or excitement might not do much for someone else.

I love music, movies, and baseball. I can get completely absorbed in a game, and there are movies and songs I can go back to over and over again without getting tired of them. I know not everyone is going to share those interests, and that’s fine. But I’ve noticed how often I feel the need to explain why I love the things I do.

Take Linkin Park, for example. I can listen to them every single day and never get tired of their music. They are forever my favorite band. But I feel like I’ve always had to justify why.

Usually, people say something like, “Yeah, I liked them in high school.” And that comment alone makes me feel like I should’ve moved on to something different because it was just a phase.

It used to make me uncomfortable having to defend my love for them, but now I’m flaunting my pride for them. I don’t turn down the music anymore when someone pulls up nearby. In fact, I turn it up. I know why I love them and how their music has helped me heal in ways I never imagined. They continue to do that for me, and I don’t feel like I need to be embarrassed about it.

The same thing goes for baseball. A lot of people don’t understand the undying passion people have for the sport. Most of my friends aren’t really into sports. I’ve gotten a few of them to come around, but I think that’s only because they want to support me, which is really sweet of them to do.

But baseball, specifically the Dodgers, is something that makes me happy. I’m pretty much occupied from April to October. I look forward to the season, get invested in the games, and genuinely enjoy following the team. Sometimes, people just don’t understand why I can be so “obsessive” about it, and I always feel the need to defend myself.

I don’t expect my friends to suddenly become huge baseball fans or understand everything about it. I know it’s not for everyone. But I also don’t think I should have to explain why I care so much about something that I enjoy.

Then there are Tim Burton films. I love them. They’re comforting to me. I love his designs, his production, his mind, and how he brings his visions to life. And of course, Danny Elfman.

A lot of people have questioned me about my love for Tim Burton films. Perhaps it’s because that was supposed to be a phase, too. His movies haven’t necessarily gotten better as time has gone by, but his classics are set in stone for me. I can watch Beetlejuice all the time and never get sick of it. The same goes for Edward Scissorhands and A Nightmare Before Christmas.

Sure, some of it might seem “childish” to other people, but they make me happy, comfortable, and content. I love the designs, the stories, and the whole atmosphere of his films. I don’t know why enjoying those things should have an expiration date. Just because I liked something years ago doesn’t mean I have to stop liking it now.

And I think that’s part of what bothers me about having to justify the things I enjoy. Why do we feel like we have to outgrow things just because other people think we should? Why does something we loved when we were younger suddenly become something we’re supposed to move on from?

I know everyone has different interests. We’re not all going to like the same music, watch the same movies, or spend our free time doing the same things. That’s normal. I’m not asking anyone to understand my love for Linkin Park, baseball, or Tim Burton films. I just want to be able to enjoy them without feeling like I need to explain myself.

I think there’s a difference between someone not sharing your interests and making you feel silly for having them. You can think something isn’t for you without making someone else question why they love it.

I know I’ve spent time trying to explain myself when I probably didn’t need to. Maybe I wanted people to understand, or maybe I didn’t want them to think there was something wrong with me for caring so much about these things. Either way, I’m getting more comfortable with the fact that people don’t have to get it.

I love what I love. Music, movies, baseball, and all the other things that make me happy don’t need to make sense to everyone else. I don’t need to convince someone that my interests are worth having, and I don’t need to outgrow them just because someone else thinks I should.

Sometimes, I just want to enjoy the things I enjoy without having to explain why.

What’s something you love that you’ve felt the need to justify to other people?

“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” — Lao Tzu (often attributed to him; attribution is uncertain)