I'm lucky to have had some wonderful friends in my life. I've also had some pretty crappy friends in my lifetime, but I think most can people can say that. And seeing as they were crappy, we're just going to forget about them, for this post is about the good ones.
Even though these people were all very good friends, I always had this nagging feeling that they really just didn't "get me" completely. To be honest, I generally put this down to the fact that I can be cautious when sharing what I'm thinking. I love these people dearly, but I often feared their reactions to what was going on in my brain. I just never felt comfortable enough to share it all with them. Whether or not they would have had adverse reactions to my nonsense, I don't really know, and perhaps it is a disservice to them that I never tried.
In any case, my mind believed that perhaps there just weren't people out there that I would ever truly think "got me".
My mind was wrong.
It was a sunny day in August, I think. (Okay so I don't really know if it was sunny, but it was August so odds are it was. I'm also really hoping it was actually August and not July, if it was, I apologize for not remembering correctly.) Anyway, on this particular day (it was a Tuesday, that I know for a fact!), I was participating in this thing called #turnthepage Tuesday, where you recommend books to others. I was pretty new to Twitter at this point, and really hadn't engaged with a lot of people yet (I'm a bit shy). However, as I looked over the recommendations from people I'd never met, one jumped out at me immediately. It was a recommendation for "The Picture of Dorian Gray", one of my favorite books.
I honestly cannot tell you why, on that day, I decided to forgo my usual self-imposed invisibility and send a message to this particular recommmender. But, I can honestly tell you, it's one of the best things I've ever done.
The lovely lady, that for some reason I was compelled to reach out to has become one of the most important people in my life. And even though I've never actually met her, (I truly hope someday I will), I feel a camaraderie with her unlike any I've really known.
She has been there to listen to my endless whining, to talk me down from my overthinking, panicky moments, and to just be a friend when I felt like hiding from the world. Her bravery, strength and endless eloquence have all inspired me in countless ways.
I've met many wonderful people through this curious thing known as Twitter, and I truly believe that one of them is a person who actually "gets me".
Her name is Nicole. And, I only hope that I have been as good a friend to her as she has been to me.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
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5 comments:
This is a wonderful post! How cool is it that we can develop a bond with someone we've never even met? Very cool and probably because you 'get' each other. Excellent !
I've spent my entire life hiding who I really am and only revealing, that, which I think others will accept me for. People don't 'get' me either. Which leads me to your observation of " perhaps it is a disservice to them that I never tried" . Maybe that holds true for me too. I just think that it's a bit late to suddenly reveal my quirky self to those who've known me for ages. But, it's never too late to start fresh with those we just meet ! At least it's a beginning... to start living as "me", and not someone that I pretend do be so others will not be put out.
A delightful disclosure and, from what I've seen, an excellent choice of friend.
xx
Lovely, just so lovely.
Sorry, can't think of anything more to add.xxx
I agree with Derry. This is so good to hear, Robin. It's great to have friendships in which you can't "mess up" - very healing! I feel you offer that to me too, and I thank you for it, dear.
I'd say something eloquent, but it's hard to type when one bursts into tears! Good tears, I hasten to add.
As per usual, I feel much of this could be coming from my own head, about you, naturally. You have been more than a good friend to me, and I have no idea how some of these past months would have been had I not had you to talk to. Sometimes just the thought that there is someone who understands, somewhere is enough to get you through.
That said, I still think you should come to New York, and then we shall Thelma & Louise it in London!
I think your post may replace "They Say of the Acropolis..." as my go-to glass of instant smiles.
Thank you. xx
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