Earlier this weekend, I had a moment of funk. It started with having to say goodbye to the most wonderful dog I’ve ever known, and it continued into this awful state where I felt not just sad, but frustrated and unsupported. Sometimes I do feel like the friends that I have who live near me don’t really get me, and it’s a little difficult to completely be myself with them.
After making an ill-advised whiny status on Facebook, I started getting really nice comments. One of them was from Jason, who hosts the Baltimore Playground meet ups (remember Recess?). He asked if I wanted to hang out, so I got up and drove to Fells Point. He had said he wasn’t feeling that great either, and it was kind of cosmic because he had logged on to look at my blog to cheer him up, and then saw my status. I thought that was the sweetest thing. I brought two glittery party hats, and we wore them while we talked stuff out. Since then, I’ve been thinking about a lot of things.
Ultimately, my job is for people. Most jobs are, actually. Occupations fulfill a need or desire of someone else. Mechanic shops fix our cars, hospitals fix our bodies, and schools educate our minds. Before, my job was to help adults with mental illness manage their symptoms, and teach skills that would help them become more independent. Now, my job is to provide fun and inspiration for anyone who comes across me in life.
The problem is, sometimes people are annoying! People stand me up, make rude comments, and tell lies. It’s the ugly truth. And sometimes I let that get to me. Another truth, though, is that there are people in my life who are incredibly kind, generous, and reliable. I love them, and appreciate everything they do for me. I’m grateful for every favor, e-mail, and conversation I get from them. From you!
You know, I’m just a girl living in one of the fifty states in one of the 190 countries in the world. I’m a blog among 200 million others, trying to establish something. My goal is to continue doing what I do, and eventually I will be able to find more people (who live near me) that share my worldview. I will find you! (Creepy laugh) I am going to keep putting myself out there, hosting events and supporting other locals. I have hope that one day, I will want to do a flash mob and my problem will be having too many people attend.
I not only want to find more people who already love the things I do, but encourage those that don’t that it’s okay to have fun. One of the things that Jason and I were talking about was how most people our age tend to only find fun at bars. Both of us like drinking, but that’s not the only thing there is to do! It’s safer to join friends at the bar, because you know what you’re going to get. Everyone else is doing it, and it seems easier than hanging back and hula hooping or going on a scavenger hunt. (By the way, you can drink and hula hoop!) But we need to explore, as Jason puts it, alternative fun.
These are just some things I’ve been thinking about. I want to make the community of Baltimore a priority, but not just that. I want to make a conscious effort to improve every community I’m a part of, and one of those is the blogging community. If you’re reading this, you’re a part of that community.
I have some questions for you:
- What’s something you’d like to see more of in your city?
- What’s something that has happened in the past two months that has “restored your faith” in humanity?
- Do you ever feel like you’d enjoy “alternative fun” but have difficulty getting out of the bar/movie/dinner grind?
You don’t have to answer all or any of these questions. But if you do, just include the number of the question next to your answer. I really appreciate it, as well as any additional thoughts. I’m trying to expand my thought process on these topics.
Oh, how this post makes me feel things. I wish it were more acceptable and easily agreed to to go on a scavenger hunt. I’m sure there are people surrounding both of us who would jump at the idea, but they seem to be really good at hiding!
2. What’s something that has happened in the past two months that has “restored your faith” in humanity?
As simple as it sounds, parents paying attention to their kids. You know how a lot of parents are always glued to their phones and their kids are trying to show them things and be silly and it’s like they’re not even part of their lives? I know it’s not like they’re doing it on purpose, but I wish I could get through to them sometimes. But there was this mom in the grocery store, the other day, who was having a full conversation with her kid, and then I saw another couple of parents letting their kid play with toys in Target. I was too shy to say anything about how awesome they are for doing that, but it made me really happy to see.
While I must be quick so say I’m sorry you’ve been in a bit of a funk lately, it is nice to read that you are in fact human when I’ve put you up on a bit of a super human pedestal.
You really hit me in the feels when you talked about not being able to be yourself near your friends. I don’t even have any friends because I get so exhausted by having to reel in my personality around the people I know that I just… avoid people as much as I can.
3. I would love to have fun and play in an alternative way to video games and movie nights and dinner out but nothing fun or exciting ever goes on in my craptown.
I’m glad someone was there to cheer you up and that you were able to turn feeling down into something positive (this post). It really makes me think.
I live in a small town (well, small by most standards. At 10,000 some it is actually fairly large by WY standards…), I notice that it is hard to MEET people. Everyone just sort of..hibernates in their homes. As an introvert, I understand to some extent but man, I’d like to feel like there was a group of people I knew at all. Those I do meet are often quite a bit older and in a different stage of life. While I love having freinds of all ages, a place and means to meet other people at that same stage I am and/or who have similar interests would be nice.
To be fair, for such a small town, there tends to be a fair bit going on. Classes. Weekend events. I have been very bad this year about getting out. Timing is always off. This post has been a good reminder to get back into going more!
Don’t let those people get you down. I recently went through anxiety and panic attacks and am now on medication. I cleaned out my emails and canceled several with only 2 or 3 exceptions. Yours being one of them. Because you have always had such a great outlook on life and having good clean fun. Nothing wrong with a drink once in awhile! You truly do cheer me up and though I’m 55 years old I still like to spread cheer and have fun in different ways! I do especially enjoy the Art Abandonment group and abandon as much as I can! hand in there! Much love, Donna Harris
That was supposed to be Hang in there! lol
1) What’s something you’d like to see more of in your city?
No pants!!!
2) What’s something that has happened in the past two months that has “restored your faith” in humanity?
The vets sending the most heartfelt card of sympathy to us after we had to let our beloved 18-year-old cat go. I was bawling.
3) Do you ever feel like you’d enjoy “alternative fun” but have difficulty getting out of the bar/movie/dinner grind?
I am in love with alternative fun, it’s what keeps me going. The problem is trying to get most everyone else out of the bar/drinking/late night rut. Makes me feel isolated in my fun-having. 🙁
I have a job where I interact with people and some of them just make me feel so miserable, but then there are others who make me smile and feel so good. It’s so much easier to say, “Don’t let them bother you” but I think it might be healthier to acknowledge that sometimes they do and then remember that tomorrow is another day full of opportunity.