The first episode of House I watched was "Frozen," after all the Superbowl hype, and I was hooked right away. There was something about House's best chance for a relationship being with someone 8500 miles away that I could identify with. I quickly caught up with the first three seasons, and that identification grew even stronger. Certainly, I don't have House's wit or charm, but the way he views people distantly, objectively, and the way he seems to view himself in relation to the world hits very close to home. I realize much of that is just me projecting my own thoughts and feelings into the brilliant silences at the end of each episode, but the effect it's had on my life is undeniable.

Watching House has been like a mirror for me at times. Now when I find myself about to make a typical "House-like" decision, I'm able to step back and imagine watching House in the same situation. I consider the decision he would make and ask myself: "Is this what I would want him to do?" "Do I think he should?" "Do I think he's right?" Sometimes, I use it as a copout ("well, it's good enough for House, so..."), but on some occasions, I've actually been able to make a harder choice than I otherwise would have.

My favorite thing about the show House is that the writers aren't afraid to ask the hard questions or tackle difficult issues. They balance the characters so well that varying viewpoints are offered without any being proven ultimately correct. Because of this, I now have new questions and perspectives to apply to my own life. And I am certainly a bit of a better person thanks to this amazingly challenging show and to the diligence and dedication of all the people involved in its creation.