If we're gonna crack this thing open, we have to start somewhere.

[grrltastic]

'Tis the season for Spotify's Christmas Cocktail Jazz playlist, and there's nothing you can do to stop me.

---

I've been thinking a lot recently about platonic intimacy and what that means. Lately I feel like I'm struggling to make real connections with friends. I suspect it's rooted in 2+ years of isolation/pandemic anxiety, but it often feels like there's just too much to unpack to get around to the root of what's actually going on in my life.

I also encountered this when I was like "self, I'm going to start using social media to cultivate actual human relationships" (which is a sentiment that makes my eyes roll out of my head but also I'm so, so lonely so whatever) and then had to think about being actually vulnerable.

I don't understand how I managed this when I was in my teens/twenties.

Comments

[switterbeet]

Me: Can't talk to people I've known for decades, they know too much.
Also me: Can't talk to people I haven't known for decades, I'll have to explain everything or have a super shallow relationship.


I'm having okay success with Whatsapp and Voxer (because of course everyone's spread out over different apps) for talking with actual humans that I know in a relatively stress free way. The asynchrony means that there's less pressure (and chances to erase and re-record stuff!) but the voice thing combined with texting feels like it allows for genuine conversation.

Good luck with people-ing. <3

[grrltastic]

OMG too real 😭