How I Started Playing Valorant: A Tale of Stress and Fur

I still remember the day I first launched Valorant, curious about all the buzz surrounding it. At first, I was just a newbie trying to figure out which way to aim and which button did what. I definitely spent more time accidentally throwing grenades at my teammates than at the enemy. But as I fumbled through those early matches, something unexpected happened—Valorant became a surprisingly effective stress reliever.

There’s something about jumping into a match, focused solely on outsmarting the other team, that makes everything else fade away. For a few glorious minutes, it’s just me, my keyboard, and the sweet sound of my favorite agent’s voice lines. It felt like therapy—if therapy included clutch plays and occasional yelling at my screen.

Of course, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Sometimes, Valorant is less a stress reliever and more a stressor. I’ve had my fair share of intense matches where I’m just seconds away from victory, only to see it snatched away by a well-timed enemy attack. The adrenaline rush can be exhilarating, but it can also make me wonder if I’m aging faster from all the pressure!

Meanwhile, as I dive into matches, my furry friends seem to sense the excitement—or maybe they just hear my voice get a little too loud. Just when I’m about to secure that clutch win, one of my cats will decide it’s the perfect time to hop onto my keyboard or nuzzle my hand. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve had to explain to teammates that the reason I wasn’t moving was due to a cat-induced keyboard mishap.

Despite the occasional chaos, having my cats around during my gaming sessions has become part of the fun. Their antics remind me not to take things too seriously. Whether it’s knocking over my drink during a critical moment or providing a soft purr of encouragement after a tough match, they keep me grounded and remind me that it’s all just a game.
So, while Valorant is my go-to for some competitive fun and stress relief, my cats are always there to ensure I never forget to pause, laugh, and enjoy the small, fluffy moments in life.