dragonsanddemons wrote:
It took me until my teenage years to even start to comprehend the meaning of the word "acquaintance." Before then, I thought that everyone I had ever met was a friend, unless they proved otherwise.
same here. I would bother people anywhere (eg on the plane) by feeling they were my best friends and talking to them on and on. Asking about them, sharing things, telling them about things I liked that they should try too.
I never realized until 2 years ago that how I behaved was actually unwanted and annoying.
it's easier to be friendly and talkative towards people you won't meet again
as u don't feel the fear of having to sustain sociability in future with them...
I'd even help out my hardcore bullies-- even risking detention--
if they asked me to, because their bullying didn't take away from my inner friendly feeling towards them
though I kept the feeling to myself.
I even had my grade 5 teacher (the best teacher possible) say he wanted to talk to me, while the rest of the class was working. He took me outside to ask, "Do you have any friends in the class?"
to which I said, "Yes, Chris, Claire, Shannon... (listed all their names)"
And he was like, "I mean is there anyone you can talk to?"
And I said, "If they ask me something I'll answer."
I knew what he was saying but I guess I didn't want to acknowledge it at the time. I remember feeling quite sad as I felt they were ALL my friends-- but I knew the feeling was not mutual, I was neither friend nor foe to them, just a neutral, invisible person who nobody cared about good or bad.
_________________
Take defeat as an urge to greater effort.
-Napoleon Hill