Nice to meet you all. Having spent nearly half my life browsing the internet, I often fall into the trap of losing myself to negativity spiraling. As I get older, it occurs to me more and more that I must take action in order to be happy and facilitate connection. The social isolation many of us face can be debilitating. The feedback loop one enters is all-too-familiar:
1. Make a faux pas or violate some arbitrary convention which is invisible to you
2. Induce what seems like random and cruel reactions from others
3. Internalize this as your fault, as a moral or personal failing.
4. In order to avoid this "mistake", you avoid further communication
5. Social isolation
As I spend more time living, I realize it isn't always me, but a world that isn't in line with my brain. For all the alienation, rejection, and negativity I experience, I try to replace it with something constructive or positive. It is with this feeling that I join WP. I look forward to connecting with new friends here!