I'm sitting here reading this - and then the first comment I see is from @dswigle too hehehe and I'm just smiling.

Because I think that there are more people who feel like the three of us (and i'm sure more in the comment section!) than we realize.

But here is my problem. I will only truly open myself fully to someone who is willing to do the same.

I have grown so absolutely indifferent to the "chit chat" of the world. People sometimes laugh when I say that, and say "you?!?!?" and I simply stare back at them boldly and say "yes."

Because they see me chit-chatting with people all the time. I do. But I don't always love it. And the second that I see that it will ONLY EVER be chit chat - I move on.

We can't BEGIN with "Hi, I'm Leah, and I would like to pour my soul out to you." LOLOLOL can you imagine the looks of horror and the streaks of dust as people flee from your over-abundance of "connection" with them hahahahaha

so yes - sometimes it APPEARS like I do a lot of chit-chat. hehehe but for me, it is just the first steps of sensing if there is more there. So many people want to be heard. So many people want you to SEE them. But we've been so closed off for so long, and people have glazed over while they BEGIN to share for so many years.... that they've learned to just think no one cares.

but they do. there are so many that care. I love Hive for that reason - it allows people to take their time to connect. there is no eye-to-eye, daunting, intimidating stare with the clock ticking loudly in the background as both parties wonder... "um... how long is too long to stay today???"

It's this unspoken agreement that we can take our time, meet each other in posts, in comments, find where we fit, gravitate towards those who get us, lure the ones in the background out and assure them they have a space and a place... and little by little, magic happens.

its funny Mary. hehehe because people see me on here and think i'm a social butterfly. I just came back from a staff retreat (I'm literally in the car going home from it as we speak) and i LIVE AND WORK with these people day by day, in a very rural community tucked away on top of a mountain.... and you'd THINK i would see them all the time.

And they joke EVERY YEAR and say "hey! you're alive! You came out of your hermit hole!" LOLOL and today - I joked back and said "See you next year!"

so - yep. I completely get your "hermit" style hahaha and i dont' even live in the city!!!! hahahahaa i live IN THE WOODS and i'm STILL a hermit on top of that LOLOLOL

but that's ok. it's all good. we find our peace and we thrive in it. that's what allows us to spread it to others

love this post :)