Connection - Connecting (After thoughts from group today)

@BluJay i absolutely feel the same about finding people who align more with our views/moral compass. i used to crave connection so much that i'd let in anyone into my space, but after some poor experiences with... let's call them energy vampires, i've also realised that i need to set boundaries and be a bit selective about the people i surround myself with.

i'm so excited for you and your journey into re-discovering yourself!! i hope you're able to have fun with it along the way, and take your time - there's no rush to figuring things out. 💗

@BluJay I resonate so deeply with everything you're talking about! I also really struggle with friendships and unmasking around anyone.

I hope for in the future meaningful connections where I feel I can be myself and within a community who understands and accepts me for who I am. and I wish this for you too! and I'm happy for you that you found a space where you feel more safe and accepted ❤️

I'd really love to build a sort of community on here and to extend understanding, warmth, love and acceptance to everyone here.

I love this SO much, what a beautiful, encouraging, and inviting post. @BluJay. When we find our people, it truly does feel like 'flow', and it's such a magical experience to be accepted as our most authentic selves. You are always welcome here and we appreciate you exactly as you are - thank you for having the courage to start this thread and to invite others to relish in their humanness. I can't wait to see your connections flourish and evolve. 😍

@disjointed8, I am so glad to see you have joined the conversation too. I implore you to connect and share from your most wonderfully unmasked self!! 🥰

And @AlwaysMyself, I am loving seeing your name pop up and all of the insightful, supportive contributions you have been sharing with our community. Thank you so much for being you. ❤️

hey @BluJay @disjointed8 @AlwaysMyself! how are you all going? 😊

Im doing OK thanks @rav3n 😊. Had a very busy past 2 weeks, so been around the forums a little less (pop on and respond to notifications, but not as much lingering) as I've felt pretty exhausted mentally. But not in a bad way, just a busy productive way.

I started attending a special-focus support group a few weeks ago, and I think that is good for general connection and understanding in that topic area. As well as also learning about others' diverse perspectives on things that I dont struggle with myself - i am always interested in how others perceive and experience life too.

Hope you, @BluJay and @disjointed8 are doing well?

@AlwaysMyself that's so fair, taking care of YOU comes first.

the support groups sounds like a great space. i feel that too, i love learning from others and gaining new perspectives/understandings. it's honestly helped me in my own healing journey.
i've done some psych studies in the past, but what i've learnt in my 4 year degrees is nothing compared to what i've learnt from 1 year on the forums.

i'm doing alright too! i've been looking into creative ways to occupy my time. i recently got into lego, which i've found really relaxing but it's an expensive activity to keep up with. i'm thinking i might start guitar lessons?

hey @rav3n, been doing ok thanks! still having big ups n downs which is getting pretty tiring, but doing my best to be kind to myself and slow and gentle. I find this can be such a hard lesson to learn, specially with capitalism like dominating our worldviews and self-perceptions...

I'm finding it a bit weird and hard that I don't have any friends I can talk honestly to about how I'm feeling cos I know I'll worry them too much, so feel like I'm living a kinda double life in some ways...I really do crave just being fully honest with people that know me though, and not having to deal with their advice or being told what to do, but just being listened to and heard, y'know?

otherwise trying to get back into creative stuff and getting out of my head as much as possible with whatever hobbies/activities I can manage that week/month! found that angry drawing is amazing haha - also..yay for spring! forget how nice sunlight is!

hey @disjointed8 lovely to hear from you.

that's so fair, life's a bit bumpy hey but i'm glad you're working on being gentle. i find that it really does make a difference.

oh yep, i hear ya! the double-life part sounds exhausting, you absolutely deserve to drop the mask. i can relate to having people enter 'problem-solving' mode when i really wanted some validation instead. in recent years i started telling my friends 'i wanna share something and i don't want any advice/solutions, i just want to vent and feel understood'. one of them kinda struggled with what to say but my other friend got it right - she actually ended up sharing that she's had similar struggles too (which was surprising cos i always thought it was 'just me'). i guess a lot more people mask than we expect! either way, the forums community is here for ya too 💗

angry drawing sounds amazing... is it free-hand where you draw whatever or is there a proper way to do it? the sunlight's been amazing hey! i forgot how much i missed it, trying to make the most of the weather before it becomes too humid!