When I was very young I was a shy sensitive girl.
I still am in many ways.
I was painfully shy through mid-5th grade.
I had a few play friends but
I had a few play friends but
I was no Miss Petunia Popular!
My mother would urge my sister and I to make new friends and break out of our shells.
She wanted us to have fun and not stay locked away.
She wanted us to have fun and not stay locked away.
I didn't know until I was an adult that she secretly struggled with shyness her whole life.
She struggled with a lot of things.
She struggled with a lot of things.
Through my teens I blossomed with
my own brand of
my own brand of
humor, silliness, and entertainment value.
I had loads of school friends and a full social life.
No one EVER thought I was shy.
My girls seemed like they were always on the go.
 |
| such a nice group of school friends! |
My girls seemed like they were always on the go.
As they entered their teen years, my nest emptied quickly.
Naturally I wanted them to always
have friends
and not miss out on anything they really wanted to go do.
 |
| my party girls! they love to dance! |
One day it occurred to me that I had been eating all my meals alone all week....
gasssssssp... it had been going on for some time!
My baby birds were flying away.
My baby birds were flying away.
It just kind of snuck up on me.
Once they started to leave the nest they were
only landing long enough to
only landing long enough to
change clothes, eat, sleep and fight with each other!
For many years my work life was basically my social life.
I worked (mostly) with fun people and the days went by quick.
I worked (mostly) with fun people and the days went by quick.
When I was home. I was on my own. I was alone.
When we spend time alone we learn a lot about ourselves.
We find out what we can do under our own steam.
We learn to rely on ourselves.
I had mentioned to a friend from home that
I would be staying by myself in the city as
Mr. C and the fly fishing guys are off
to the Arctic Circle for 22 days.
She said she wasn't worried about me because I'm
When we spend time alone we learn a lot about ourselves.
We find out what we can do under our own steam.
We learn to rely on ourselves.
I had mentioned to a friend from home that
I would be staying by myself in the city as
Mr. C and the fly fishing guys are off
to the Arctic Circle for 22 days.
 |
| 2010 arctic circle fishing trip |
She said she wasn't worried about me because I'm
'a woman who is comfortable in her own company'
I snorted out loud at first because it sounded so grown up!
Was she speaking of ME?!
I remember when being in my own company was not so comfortable.
I've decided it was a compliment.
I've come a long way.
I've come a long way.
After all, how can other's really be comfortable with us
if we are not comfortable being with just ourselves?
if we are not comfortable being with just ourselves?
 |
| in my own company |
After 1 year of settling into this new life it's time to make some new friends here
not just casual acquaintances.
I have been feeling some shyness creep back in again.
I have been feeling like the new girl at school.
not just casual acquaintances.
I have been feeling some shyness creep back in again.
I have been feeling like the new girl at school.
I mentioned in an earlier post I was missing my friendships from home.
While I am viewed as a woman comfortable with her own company...
(a little snort)
a little alone time is okay, but there is just
NOTHING
like being in the company of women friends!
NOTHING
like being in the company of women friends!
I remember meeting you and I would never have guessed that you were shy because you exuded confidence. Shyness is an affliction that I have suffered from almost my entire life. When I was a child I was an avid reader (still am) and would stay in my room rather then go out and play with the neighborhood kids especially if there was someone new there. When I started Cosmetology School I had to learn how to make small talk to look confident also known as "fake it till you feel it". It helps that I am truly interested in other people. I am glad you are meeting new people in your adopted country. On another subject does your mom still live On Green Ave? I met her twice at your store and it seemed that is where you got your outgoing personality.
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ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss. Your mom seemed very young and I remember you saying her husband was younger. That is so sad for you and your girls. I remember how proud she was when she was talking about that house. :(
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kindness. I'm so surprised you can remember all that stuff! She loved her house and gardens. It really was a charming house.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that finding friendship in Finland is difficult...I speak from experience! But, as you've probably been told before, Finns prefer to get to know you slowly...so being 'shy' is actually considered a positive thing here, much better (in their opinion) than being a 'forward N. American ;D The positive side of making Finnish friends slowly, is that it's an honest and true friendship once it's made :D
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving such a sweet comment <3
Hope you're having a great summer in the 'big city' now that the summer weather seems to finally have arrived!
I have heard that and I'm looking forward to those friendships!
ReplyDeleteUs North Americans and our forward ways! HAHAHA!!!!
Your blog is beautiful!!! I only speak the truth!
The weather is pretty FABULOUS finally! We hit 25c yesterday here! Our balcony has turned into my sewing room I took in a lot more sun than I thought!