In a world where priorities are mixed up and things are so uncertain, remains little space for being genuine and genuinely knowing people. We all get these shields up and forget that we are dealing with other human beings and, most of the time, don’t let our true self be. Being a shy and introvert person, makes it hard for people to get to know me and, more often than not, it takes some time. I’m not very warm and fuzzy when I meet someone but, as time goes by, if that person is someone who I can feel and be myself with, I start to open up.
Having moved a few times does not help, but it surely teaches and forces me to grow and become more tolerant and available. I have to put myself out there a lot and it doesn’t help if I’m being defensive, shady or closed. Friends don’t grow on trees and, over the past year and a half, I’ve come to narrow down a few friends in New York that helped me feel like I could be home.
When you’re living abroad, I feel like relationships tend to grow quicker and, sure, a lot of them won’t survive, but some of them will. You can’t erase moments you’ve shared and move on, they become a part of who you are and, in my case, who I want to be. I’m starting to feel like my genuine self around them and it’s just a relieve to let down my guard and let it be. And when that does happen, I feel that they start doing the same. Our conversations, approaches and behaviors change in a way that we start to unveil our authentic and candid side.