User blog comment:JoePlay/Wizarding World Giveaway/@comment-4157548-20110717211714

"Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open". - Albus Dumbledore When we are young, our parents often stress the importance of being kind to the people around us and treating others the way we wish to be treated. Of course, this phrase can be easily tossed about without any real significance behind it. I was six years old when the first Potter book hit shelves, still very much a child and very curious about the world around me. It's around that age that we begin to discover all of the different elements that make people, well, people. We begin to define many different attributes such as love, hate, friendship, and animosity, and consequently, attach them to people and places that are familiar to us. Young Harry is thrust into a world that he is quite unfamiliar with, and naturally he is filled with many questions. It is through his friendship with Ron and Hermione, and his father-son-like relationships with Dumbledore and Sirius, that he begins to understand the meaning of true, selfless love and how his actions affect everyone around him. Harry also learns valuable lessons, believe it or not, from his mortal enemy Voldemort. He comes to understand what can happen to one's soul when they selfishly seek power and refuse to give or receive love. A very thin line separates Harry and Voldemort. As kids, they shared all the same abilities, and in some cases, the same aspirations of being first rate wizards. However, they obviously took very different paths to reach their destinies. All of that being said, the lessons JK Rowling outlines in the Potter series are more than relevant to the world we live in. I, like so many around me, have felt like I've grown up with Harry and experienced the joys and fears that come with that growth. Harry has been one of my best friends. It's funny: In times of tension or adversity in my life, I felt like I could turn to Harry because his problems always seemed to be worse than mine, yet he remained resolute. Like Harry, I've experienced young love and it's "keen sting". I've experienced my first day of school, my first sporting competition, my first dance, and many other firsts that make being a kid magical. I've also had to deal with difficult teachers, damaged friendships, and all of the things that make being a kid just as frightening. Quite frankly, I love Harry Potter like a brother. He and I are more similar than I'd care to admit. We both have had to make choices that, for better or for worse, have affected the course of our lives and all of the people around us. I wish I could find the words to thank JK Rowling for making it ok to be a kid, no matter how old we really are or what is happening in our lives. I felt a great deal of emptiness Thursday night when it seemed like Harry was walking out of my life forever. But because of Rowling's beautiful words, and the work done by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, and many others in the films, I was able to take heart: Harry Potter isn't going anywhere. My generation belongs to Harry, just as my parents' generation belonged to Luke Skywalker or Indiana Jones. As long as we keep Harry in our hearts, he will never truly leave us, and that message holds true for a lot of things in life. The people that we love live deep inside of us and guide us through life's long and winding journey. Whether you are looking for a classic battle of good versus evil, a quest for knowledge, a biblical anecdote, or just a good adventure, all can be found in Rowling's beautiful world. She opened her heart and allowed us all to experience the love and friendship that she so clearly values. It is my hope that my kids will one day find joy in rediscovering this monumental series and learn from it's endearing message.

Oh and on a side note, if I were to look into the Mirror of Erised at this moment in time, I'd see me and my friend Brett standing in line for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter....minor detail :)

-Dino Nicandros "Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." - JK Rowling