Interacting vs Embracing

I keep having these moments of insight that bring a sort of relief but are quickly trivialized by the judgmental critic within. It's the same voice that has discouraged me from writing or sharing much of anything anywhere, with anyone. (Here's to victory #1 and knocking out my publish goal for 2026 as early as February! Thanks, nicheless.) Despite the sense that this isn't fresh wisdom and may even be elementary or delayed for me, I'll share anyhow.

As a pretty proud extrovert (historically, anyway), I think I've confidently asserted for a long time that I was well connected and had a lot of "friends." My best friend since childhood criticized me during one of our early fallings out that I was a collector of friends. It stung, but I didn't dig in to consider it as deeply before.

I now have a better sense of the difference between fleeting interactions with new people (who I even end up exchanging numbers with and getting a real high from) and allowing real relationship that invites people to take up space in my life. And stay.

The cyclical staleness has returned that I always eventually feel being back "home" in the metro area where I grew up - close to my oldest friends and my family of origin. It's been taxing and frustrating recently with some of the people I'm closest to. But for once in my life... I think that's okay. I think I'll finally learn to lean in and be honest with and support them where I can.

Elementary? Maybe. Conscious and grounded? Finally.
Hoping for more.