Monday 9 May 2011

Acquaintances

I love my friends – B, A, R, RL, SS and all the other random initials you might have seen on here.

I went out on Friday night without them though. Because I know that when we are out, we stick together. We have our own jokes, our own terminology for things, our own little quirks and I am comfortable around them. Friday night was definitely outside of my comfort zone. Invited out for a birthday party of a boy I didn’t know by a girl who I’ve only recently met is not ideal - social butterfly or not!

But I went because as much as I love my friends, they are at different stages to me and trying to talk to them about how I feel makes me scared. Afraid that they’ll judge me. Thinking that I should have moved on by now.

I met a girl. Someone whom I’ve seen around at other parties. We share mutual friends and have said hello to each other more than once but we’ve never had an actual conversation. But Friday night, I was able to share my fears of loneliness, dating sites, marriage and the future because she is in the exact same boat as me. And it happened so easily. We spoke about our pasts and I mentioned the ex because even though it’s been a while, there is still some pain. My physical insecurities are so rarely voiced in public – in fact not at all. I don’t share with anyone how I feel about myself but with her I did. Not because I want her to become my lifelong friend. But because it felt good to be able to share that with someone who I don’t know. Someone who I don’t care if she’ll judge me or not.

I don’t feel comfortable enough to do that with the usual lot. Not because they wouldn’t support me but because they’d know me at my most vulnerable. And I’m not sure if I want them to see that side of me.

I’m not sure if I want anyone to see that side of me. The side that actually cares. The side that is so lonely that it’s sometimes in despair. The side that matters.

5 comments:

Closed said...

Don't worry Scrumps you aren't the only one who doesn't open up to friends and family.
And I don't think it's wrong.

Some of us do feel more comfortable discussing personal stuff with a total random stranger.

Delilah said...

i think its mainly because theres less to deal with when you confide in a stranger. friends could either judge you or be overly worried or discuss with other friends. i do this sometimes too :)

Sarah said...

That's my favorite part :)

Seesaw said...

Sometimes you need new friends to share who you are with now, and old friends to remind you of who you can be.

Either way- life evolves constantly. No reason you can't share different sides of it with different ppl :-)

The despair won't last forever- always remember that.

Guiding Spirit said...

There is something about strangers and the anonymity of a pseudonym that helps you be open in ways you could never be with family and friends (as close as they may be to you).
I would never be able to talk to family/friends about half of the things I blog about!