I had something of an epiphany this weekend, and I’m still trying to figure out how to process it. Let me back up a second and explain.
So on Friday night, the wife and I actually left the kid with his grandparents and stayed out and about in Manhattan after work; one of my oldest and bestest friends was part of a gallery opening, and so we went over to check it out. And a whole bunch of other people showed up, and then we went out for drinks afterwards, and I realized that it was the first time I’d seen some of these people – some of my best and closest friends – in years.
I’m an introverted person by nature, and my move to the suburbs has only made it easier to be a hermit. But the truth is that I’d also been crippled by some serious anxiety issues for a number of years, which often times made it impossible for me to leave my apartment.
And yet, even though I’m an introvert, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m shy. I’ve been oversharing on the internet since my first LiveJournal blog back in 2000-2001. The internet has made it far easier for me to compensate for my introversion and my social anxiety. After all, there’s no real need for you to call me and see how I’m doing if I’m already telling you.
So my epiphany this weekend was about realizing just how much I tend to overshare, especially on places like Facebook, and how perhaps Facebook isn’t the best place for that kind of stuff. There is no adequate substitute for a quality in-person conversation with a good friend.
And so maybe it’s time for me to get off my couch a little more.
