I searched a couple of times- and my apologies if this has been posted already.
Anyway, I was curious to know if One Piece/Oda has inspired, changed you, or affected your life in anyway.
IMO, this manga/show to be the most touching or inspirational, so I thought I'd ask. 
I'd have to say (even though stupidly enough), it kinda saved my life. 
Well, should I decide to go ahead and make my own series, I've learned to not be too predictable and to be more creative in making cool & unique powers. Also to keep the story moving at steady but rapid pace.
Basically I've learned to go left where most would go right and improve my storytelling
Also, I'm gained an obsession with suits after seeing Lucci & Crocodile for the first time.
Well, it's certainly improved my determination.
I am also in the process of conceptualizing a story so One Puiece has had a minimal impact on that, but not as much as other mangas.
One Piece deals w/ adventure which is nice and all.
I suppose it has given me that "Turn the other direction" attitude though.
I mix things up alot, not too much though.
Perhaps you'll see the trilogy in the future.
Look for a character named Zero^^
J
Check out larger(huge) pictures of One Piece flags in my deviant art gallery: http://zerocustom1989.deviantart.com/gallery/
Official Gol D Roger. Just added.
When I'm now closer to my dreams more than ever. :happy:
I am on the computer a bit more than before; OP has expanded my views on art. I also decided that everyone should have a dream and not be a stuck-in-the-mud like Bellamy.
It's inspired me to try and cook a lot more. It's also made me believe that any dream is possible with a little effort.
OP made me nocturnal… and insomniac... -__-;
OP is my life. sounds stupid, i know, but that's how i feel. One Piece has effected my life so freaking much, it's unbelievable. OP Made me decide what i want to do in life. this is probably a cleashay, but OP made me belive in myself, and that i can achieve my desires and make my dreams come true if i want too. and my dreams are related to OP, Actually. i don't know if it's ok for me to tell you this 'cause probably some of you won't like the idea, but..oh well, what the heck. first, i want to be a writer and director. but i don't want to write and direct films in my little-problematic-country, it'll be boring and not exciting. i want to make films in america, where the real industry excists. i want to make movies which will reach anyone, everyone, in every country - and everyone will feel some connection to my movies. sadness, laughter, excitment, any emotion possible - i want everyone to connect to their human feelings as they see my movies, and get them excite and emotional. so, how's op getting in to this? well, my true dream is make OP a real movie series (not threelogy, a series of movies, op can't be made in 3 movies XD) i want to make everyone know op and like it, to laugh, to cry, to feel the advanture flowing in the body and shaking the bones inside, for everyone! that is my vision, that's what i want to do someday. i have alot of fears though, but i know that's normal. i know i will disappoint luffy and everyone if i'll fail making my dream a reality (i hope i don't sound pathetic right now XD), and as the Family song says, 'only dreamers are aloud in the mothership'! therefore i will not shatter, i will try my best to complete my desires and if i won't make it, adleast i know that i gave my best. but i don't intend to 'not make it', i will succeed! i have to think that way all the time. that is how much OP effected my life. i hope that i will be aceepted in the eyes of the fans, because that i 'once was a fan myself', it's not like a complete unknown director is making a movie of an anime he never saw, therefore i belive that i can make great movies of OP. that is all i guess. oh, and someday, i want to just travel the seas of our world. with my nakama and friends. but that is, of course, after i achieve my goals.
OP is my life, my life is OP.
Before One Piece, I had a life.
In a bland and meaningless existence, One Piece is the one shining light. A refuge from this mundane and trivial world, Oda's masterwork bestows hope and happiness to one whose life had once been jaded. When all else fails, and no one is there to help pick up the pieces, one can always find solace in nakama… even if they are fictional.
wow, I just made myself depressed
I'll just copy PASTA what I said on LJ once:
These characters aren't real, the world isn't real and the stories aren't real, but I have never been so emotional about a series before. I always have tears streaming down my face everytime I read Robin's flashback. Scenes like Sogeking showing up while everyone is screaming: "WHO THE FUCK IS THAT MAN" and Robin laughing through her tears while saying: "Longnose-kun!!" make me burst into tears.
And this series inspires me. It inspires me to draw, but also to go on even when things are looking grim, and that I must put up a fight for what I want. It has learned me to put others above myself, to laugh when times are hard, that everything can be done if you believe in it, and most importantly: it has learned me that you are never alone.
The characters show every time that even when the shit hits the fan and EVEN when you think everything is lost; there is always a solution. They continue to struggle for their sense of freedom and for their dreams, while they've had a rough past and everything worked against them at one point.
And yes, I do realise that this is probably ridiculously pathetic or something, since none of this is real, but I just don't care. I adore Oda for giving the world a story no one will ever be able to forget, and I am sure that in 30 years, I'll tell my children about this great story that I started to read when I was thirteen, and that I've sticked with it until the end.
I will always keep this story close to my heart because it means the world to me.
Oh yes, One Piece has had a huge impact on my life… When I get depressed, I think about what Saul says to Robin... It sounds stupid to anyone that I say that to, but it makes sense to me.
Oda's work is just so inspiring to me as an artist. His work has influenced the way I draw and look at things.
It just makes me want to keep on going and living my dreams.
Also, when I watch that amv, "Sail On" it really gets my inspiration going, the song is so perfect for One Piece, and I sometimes feel like I can apply it to my life. I love the lyrics in that song, "We always have to sail on" and "Throw down your fears and guide the strength which lies within..."
Also, yeah this may only be fiction, but the characters seem so real... so full of emotion. I've never been so moved by a manga/anime series before. When Robin was feeling lonely as a child, I could feel her pain (sorta been there myself >_>) Which is why I can't go through those chapters or episodes without bawling XD
Pretty much what mr bushido said as well XD
*** PlasticStar5 Instagram***
one piece has a huge impact for my life.. it made me realise that although i'm not an art student, it does not mean i cant draw for my own satisfaction.. as a newbie in university life, one piece surely gives me a lot of fun when i have a bunch of assignments or projects.. in short.. it doesnt matter wat i do, one piece js simply lightens up my day wit all its humours..
I do not know how to express it…but One Piece do affect my life in many ways.
It showed me how important it is to be selfconfident and that sometimes it´s necessary to fight if I want to reach something. It showed me how important friendship is…and the most important thing I´ve learned: It´s good to have a dream.
It´s good to have dreams because going through life without a direction could be very unsatisfying…one day you are 40 years old and reached nothing at all…
i don't want to die until op is finished and no matter how bad the day is, as long as a one piece chapter is released, i feel good.
OP made me nocturnal… and insomniac... -__-;
ditto but One Piece wasn't the original cause it just helped that along
Op has seriously been a cure for my deppression.
Because of OP, I met the love of my life. Ah, nerd romance <3.
It got me into manga
It made me realize how lackluster Naruto is compared to it, and how Oda is vastly superior to Kishimoto. Oh, and to approach life with a DON!
It made me look forward to Thursday or Fridays. Besides that OP really hasn't affected my life that much actually OP might have messed it up a little.
It's tremendously uncool to admit that I don't read OP with a stiff upper lip and a stern, unmoving gaze, or perhaps a stylishly sardonic smile, but I have been touched by several parts of the story.
On actual measurable effects… it helped me build up the courage to return to college after a few years' hiatus.
"You people and your slight differences disgust me!" - Futurama
It's the reason I became a forum addict (this is the first place I ever joined). >.>;
I guess that's an impact…
@Mearl:
It's tremendously uncool to admit that I don't read OP with a stiff upper lip and a stern, unmoving gaze, or perhaps a stylishly sardonic smile, but I have been touched by several parts of the story.
I'm glad that I'm not the only one who isn't crying their eyes out whenever something sad/dramatic happens.
As for how One Piece has impacted my life? Hm… I don't really know. I can't really say that I have terribly strong feelings regarding it, similarly to Lupin III. It's just something that I enjoy, really, not my reason for existence.
One Piece is the reason I'm determined to live in this time and age, even though I hate it desperately. Bellemere's words about not hating the age you're born into really got me.
OP reminds me that there are still good people out in the world. 
OP was the first manga that actually blew my mind. Also, perhaps, the first one to put me into tears (one too many times).
Also the first manga I want to see to the end.
But eventhough I have Tangerine Farm, and several projects concerning OP, and a goal of owning all 43 books (and counting), I cant really say it made a big impact on my life, aside from entertaining me every week, and putting a big smile on my face, and perhaps inspiring me in some way that I have yet to notice.
*** For General (Non-Background) OP music, check this post.
If whatever you're looking for isnt there, THEN ask in the Music thread.**
It didn't do anything to me.
One Piece is unique. Every detail,from the storylines,the background music,the characters,they are so perfect.One Piece is the one of the first Animes I watched(and just about 4 months ago) and I'm really really into it now.
It makes me stop thinking about Anime just as Anime,but as a great work of Art.
Besides,It makes me want to learn Japanese and to know about J's culture.
Oda is unique and Arlong Park is No.1
Hasn't really impacted my life…...But it is the only manga in history to actually keep me interested this long.
Brought me together with my neko Whom I love very much.
It also kept me amused and interested in a manga for a long time lol.
And many a happy night I have wanked to Robin.
It was what got me in to anime/manga.
So i should really hate OP, my poor poor wallet has suffered alot because of it 
I stopped being a lazy bum after reading OP. All that "Follow your dream" philosophy changed me a little. Though I still don't do my homework. XD
Oh and Its got the most interesting storyline in anime for me.
It always makes me happy when I think about it [unless I think about the angsty parts, which make me despressed] - it's like the shining light of this filthy world, or something. It makes me believe that someday my dream can come true, too.
But it also makes me kind of jealous - it's stupid, I know, but I wish I had nakama like that. I don't think anything like that exists in real life.
It lead me to here, where I've made some of the best friends I've ever had.
It didn't do anything to me.
… not true, if your new avatar is any indication! 
(sorry, I couldn't resist making that joke)
Sad to say, but just reading this thread is making me emotional. It reminds me of all the touching times in OP… sniff Agh...
How does Oda do it!?
Although it inspired me and got me into pirating ages, it makes me depressed at the same time, knowing that there aren't too many people around in the world that are in OP, and not to mention that I DON'T HAVE A DREAM. Yes, true. I just wish I had something to pursue and me motivated about. :[
But no matter what I know I'll always love this anime/manga; I practically base my life on it.
You said it saved your life in the first post; if I'm not being rude to as, I'm curious, would you elaborate?
to approach life with a DON!
That sums it up for me.
Ah, well… :]
To summarize a long story, I'd been depressed for about 2 years, and I felt that life didn't have much of a point anymore. I have pretty harsh living conditions, and I'd always be thinking about ending my life- not like "emo" kids who just cut their wrists for attention. I was getting myself to be ready to do it pretty soon, and if something didn't change, I was going to do it; no messing around.
Corny as it sounds, my grandmother sent me 10 volumes of OP from Japan. I started reading it...I knew they were fake characters, with fake stories, but it had inspired and moved me greatly.
With Nami struggling so hard for 8 years, just to save her village, instead of taking the easy way out. And Bellemere's quote about how if you keep living, good things would happen. (Not exactly in that context, but you know.)
I kept thinking about how easily we die, and I thought suicide would make me pretty weak, compared to those soldiers out there, risking their lives.
Pretty Amazing. I might have not been here, writing this, if it weren't for Oda. (And my grandmother. =p)
Agh. That ended up being longer than I thought.
Well it's good to know it had such a positive impact on your life :3
The most OP's ever done for me is make me some (wonderfully) weird friends and be the most entertaining thing I've ever read.
I'm glad you decided to keep living
Suicide is never an option, I hope you know that by now
Also, u have a cool grandma. I mean sending you manga instead of clothing or whatever.. haha.. too bad my parents think manga is evil :wassat:
*** For General (Non-Background) OP music, check this post.
If whatever you're looking for isnt there, THEN ask in the Music thread.**
Oh, and to approach life with a DON!
It always makes me happy when I think about it [unless I think about the angsty parts, which make me despressed] - it's like the shining light of this filthy world, or something. It makes me believe that someday my dream can come true, too.
These sum it up for me. ^_^
OP has improved my life in that I'm much more adventurous!
Here's proof.
Well, after hearing everyone else's story, I think it's about time I shared mine…
Before One Piece came into my life, I was just a 5th grader
with practically no friends and nothing to look up to.
And with the whole class shunning me because of my race and interests I pretty much thought I was alone. =_=;
Then, one day, I wanted to try the anime. So I saw
it on 4Kids TV and I was all " WTF. A lollipop?!" I wanted
to see the japanese version so I looked up the manga.
So... I found it, and started reading.
I was like " 4Kids actually changed Sanji's cig to a lollipop.
Pfft. I think Im sticking to the original."
This is the part where I start getting addicted to it. >_>;
And then Enies Lobby came in. It was like an emotional rollercoaster for me. I cried during Robin's past and everything. Oda made me cry. Over a fictional story.
People must think Im pathetic. o-o;
And it taught me this:
People are never born into this world alone.
… My fingers hurt from typing.
Crap, that was longer than I expected it to be.
I can't say its really changed much.
Aside from making me more of a hyperactive freak that foams at the mouth, it also made me feel warm in fuzzy on the Inside. It also makes me cry, alot.. lately its done that.
One Piece makes me see that their are good things in life I guess. It just makes me see my life in a different way. It taught me some stuff here and there.
Wow, it is really nice to hear some of the stories I have read. To hear that it helped some of you with depression is something to admire. (Wish it did the same for me, but I'm too fucked up for that =P)
As for how One Piece impacted my life… Well, I was never as huge into manga as I am now.
For a more serious note, it acts as an escape alternative for me than alcohol. When I'm at my worst, I'll read some One Piece to help cheer me up. Sometimes I'll pathetically associate myself with a character and admire the character for how they act and gives me some belief that I can be like that. Be it storng (not in a strength context), carefree, or anything... it eases the soul a bit.
One Piece is my anti-drug. I don't mean to sound corny or make fun, but to be serious.
I used to think I was really pathetic that something fictional can help me a little. After reading all this, I know I was wrong.
Meh, this all probably sounded stupid.
I like how Luffy doesn't live in the past. Sure, sucky stuff happened, but he believes in going forward towards his dreams, and he tells others to do the same. A little while back I had to learn to let go of my past mistakes and stop slowing myself down by regretting things all the time, all by myself. Sure, people can TELL you to do these things, but you have to MAKE yourself believe in it, and change your outlook on your own, and that's what I did.
One Piece encourages to follow my dreams more than ever, which is great because there's this dream I've been following since I was nine. And I still have a long way to go. It also taught me more about friendship, about 'nakama'(it really is a terribly common word in Japanese, so it's cool that Oda uses the theme so well, and so strongly), and I've passed this stuff on to my friends. I'll never be alone, 'cause I got nakama. :B
…In truth, I tend to draw more parallels from OP to my own life than actually learning new things. But I do learn some new things, or at least strengthen my beliefs; even if it's in a small way, it still matters. I've also been able to impact the lives of some of the people I care about most through OP, whether directly(like converting my best friend and my boyfriend!), or indirectly(drawing One Piece-related stuff in my letters to my brother in boot camp, thus inspiring him to draw pirate-themed stuff in his replies, as well as thinking up stories based around them).
~Rat, first mate of the Flametail Pirates
+_+
I know that non of the characters are real, i doubt that Oda even bassed them on real people either, but somehow I can somehow relate to the characters and continue to go on.
OP is my life. sounds stupid, i know, but that's how i feel. One Piece has effected my life so freaking much, it's unbelievable. OP Made me decide what i want to do in life. this is probably a cleashay, but OP made me belive in myself, and that i can achieve my desires and make my dreams come true if i want too. and my dreams are related to OP, Actually. i don't know if it's ok for me to tell you this 'cause probably some of you won't like the idea, but..oh well, what the heck.
Hey, there's definitely nothing wrong with anything positively affecting one's life. I remember a long time ago, I wanted to do something similar, except it was with Digimon, I wanted to work on the anime for it. I want to be a musician now, but regardless of everyone's dreams, whether for vocations, wanting to level up, or anything in life… Go for it. =D Even if the odds are against you, such as making a One Piece movie series people may or may not be against... Keep with it!
It always makes me happy when I think about it [unless I think about the angsty parts, which make me despressed] - it's like the shining light of this filthy world, or something. It makes me believe that someday my dream can come true, too.
But it also makes me kind of jealous - it's stupid, I know, but I wish I had nakama like that. I don't think anything like that exists in real life.
Me too. I think as life goes on, I'll make more, though. Maybe we can all be inspired/impacted nakama (as corny as that sounds, and as newbieish as I am..) together!
@EvilGamerX:
Wow, it is really nice to hear some of the stories I have read. To hear that it helped some of you with depression is something to admire. (Wish it did the same for me, but I'm too fucked up for that =P)
As for how One Piece impacted my life… Well, I was never as huge into manga as I am now.
For a more serious note, it acts as an escape alternative for me than alcohol. When I'm at my worst, I'll read some One Piece to help cheer me up. Sometimes I'll pathetically associate myself with a character and admire the character for how they act and gives me some belief that I can be like that. Be it storng (not in a strength context), carefree, or anything... it eases the soul a bit.One Piece is my anti-drug. I don't mean to sound corny or make fun, but to be serious.
I used to think I was really pathetic that something fictional can help me a little. After reading all this, I know I was wrong.
Meh, this all probably sounded stupid.
That's definitely not stupid! That goes to anyone else who has thought they were pathetic for having their life positively changed in any way, whether small or drastically, through OP, or any other anime or art form or anything else! I was looking for a "inspired by OP" topic, which got me to this topic, and I thought if there wasn't one made yet and if I were to make it, how silly that kind of topic would've sounded… but now I see, how many people are affected, just like me! It's not pathetic at all...
Also, I too admire characters and relate to them. I think that's a universal thing. 
After reading all the replies in this topic... it's just great to hear how many people have been impacted from OP, in awesome ways... Curing depression, life values... different things. It just makes me... feel warm and fuzzy inside, I guess. That sounded corny, but oh well.
As for me... OP has taught me different things. Not to be scared of anything... To go for your goals and dreams even with impossible odds and obstacles against you! Of course I was already on my way with going towards those, but it just gave me more fuel (kinda like Franky with cola) to go after them EVEN MORE. It also makes me want to have nakama where I feel like I'm loved around just as much as each straw hat does in Luffy's crew. It makes me want to have the most adventurous, most fun life EVER.
And the story itself... I've never shed actual tears from OP, but the stories do affect me. I love the interaction between the characters, the sad drama,
the strength not only in attacks but in heart, watching everyone jump over their obstacles and get even more closer to their DREAMS! All of it. Even though I may not cry, I feel like I'm still very 'into' this series - I'm still affected somehow, as I always wish the best in my mind for everyone involved, to come out okay!
Wow, this kinda made me all emotional… Art can do that to you.
