Psyche Spelunking

[erishkiegal]

Social interactions are frequently a difficult thing for me. The various phobias and frustrations of casual contacts aside, I place very high demands upon friendship. The forlornly young history of my intimate social life is a steady stream of lessons in learning to limit myself. I must limit my curiosity, limit my desire to express and share

Comments

You're not alone

[voluptasia]

Wow - your first two paragraphs I can totally relate to. I couldn't have written it better myself. Thank you!

I remember reaching out to you at some point early in your stay in Portland, maybe a year and a half ago?...and feeling like we have a lot in common, and that you're so far ahead of me in some ways. I feel like we've been getting to know each other slowly, at a distance, as often happens for me with my Portland friends since I don't live close...anyway, I know this isn't what you're asking for here, but I wanted to let you know that you add value to my life and I'd like to make time to get to know you better. When you arrive at a social event when I'm there too, I think 'Oh, yay - there's Meaghan!' =)

On the surface interactions - I think our culture at large has agreed to accept mere surface conversations as okay - so much so that anything else seems confrontational. I feel like my Portland community of friends are actively working on changing that, even by you asking the question here. I stick out like a sore thumb in a state government office building, yet I blend into the background when amongst like-minded community friends. It drives me crazy too, that we can't talk with each other about what's really on our minds, and it's quite exhausting being the one trying to change the paradigm all the time.

Re: You're not alone

[erishkiegal]

You so need ot hurry up and move to Portland