Weekly Prompt #9: What do you miss most about social interaction and connection?

social interactions and connections are just a lose-lose situation. 99% of time they only provide pain and embarrassment and all kinds of bad feelings, and then when you're left in social isolation you end up feeling even worse simply because "human brain is wired like that".

I have mixed feelings related to social interactions and connections.

On one hand, I despise social interactions because they introduce the feeling of "loneliness" to you. You realise that sometimes, they were the reason why you were smiling and them being gone, you are left to nothing. Empty. A hollow smile it was. You become dependent on them and once they are gone, you are alone and, more often than not, lonely. NOW, they took your secrets, your reasons and things that make you tickle, and the stories you once thought were sacred to you people, your memories, your code-words. YOU.

But at the same time, that time was good. At least the time you are interacting there's a chance you might catch up a real smile, there is a chance you may learn, even if not something good.. you'll learn what NOT to do. Instead of hating on yourself for interacting, if you could have done just enough and not more than what was right, just following the "human is a social creature" norm and just being alive with them, it might not hurt that much.

Just like the tree on your lawn, it will stay till its life goes and then one day it'll dry up, one day it'll die.. you can't have that fruit now, i agree.. but you did enjoy those fruits when they were there, right?

Here also, this platform in a way is social interaction only... if i use it just right, i might not get attached to it and use it rather to get better. Chances it I might get bonded enough to just be here for happiness and feel gloomy on days when site's down, but that's up to me to decide, aint' it? Why give this site the power? Why give social groups the power? Why give others the power? Hold it for yourself. JUST yourself. I may sound like I'm being selfish, but just being there for others and forgetting about self has done enough harm so it's better to be practical, I believe. and this is coming from person who HATES "this too shall pass", "it all happens for a reason", etc.. so yea...

And for the "What do you miss most about social interaction and connection?" part... I don't miss anything. I sometimes do hate that I once let myself free enough to let them take the power of my happiness and that it took just a few days and they all left me with nothing behind [we separated ways]. I still don't regret being their part because they showed me a beautiful friendship that I never believed I could have had.. so even though the wounds are deep, the game was fun. I just miss the smile I used to carry, which sometimes was legit too.

Got nothing for the second half of the question, sorry.

@ASilentObserver

Hi, ASO,

This week's prompt is: What do you miss most about social interaction and connection? Are there any supports in place that help ease feelings of loneliness for you?

I miss feeling like I am heard by someone who knows me intimately and cares about my well being. I have a therapist, but she is unfortunately the 3rd one at the same facility in 3 years. (They have a high turnover rate.) And I am about to move to another state, so I'll have a new one again. I also have listeners here, but it is a combination of not knowing me well, and/or holding back.

@ASilentObserver I love interacting with others, but I can definitely understand those who need more alone time than others! It can drain your social battery very quickly, especially if you are introverted. If I am experiencing loneliness, I really like to come to 7 Cups ❤️

Not a whole lot... The only thing I miss is the possibility of getting a date. Finding someone to hold would be nice.

I still check out the women (I'm a man, after all. Some things never change) but frankly, I am not on the "most desirable bachelor" list in my area. Or anywhere else. I wish I were but time wears away on us all...& chronic issues wear down far too many of us even more.

Social interactions were never a big deal for me. I communicate better virtually because im not concerned about my appearance or mannerisms which overshadow my ability to interact socially. A lot of people thrive in social situations but not me.

Personal contact with each other and the ability to carry out a conversation with someone else. Instead of using technology to connect and interaction people need to learn the art of having a conversation with someone. It worked for thousands of years before the invention of cell phones, the internet, and social media platforms. I remember the time before all of this became reality and was just the creation of a Hollywood movie or television show.

I think I'd prefer it, no social interactions, at this point after all is it not better to be alone and feel lonely than around people that should care and feel lonely. For me that's worse. I'd love to be able to just be alone.....

@ASilentObserver

Any loneliness that might result from not having friends is mitigated by remembering the discomfort and disappointment of trying meeting new people.

I do get out & talk to people every so often, so I don't miss social interaction as such. What I do miss is being able to have a face-to-face convo with someone on a more than superficial level...that is a rare experience indeed. It comes down to "wavelength", for lack of a better word. I had plenty of that quality discussion with my father when he was alive (& before his heart attack--he was never the same after that). I could maybe engage in such discussion with my cousin...I don't know for sure since while he's not stupid at all, he is pretty conventional in most ways. But the question is moot since he has his hands full with his job & looking after his son (special needs).

I don't keep up with celebrities; in fact I don't even know the names of most of the current ones (which shows how old I'm getting 😄). I don't have Netflix, though if I thought I could afford it I might consider it...so I don't watch the shows that are on it right now. I don't do ***. Now I do talk to the younger folks because I don't want to become narrowminded like so many people do as they age, or at least no more narrowminded than I am already. 😏 But seriously, I think it's important to talk to people outside your own generation...

Even so, it's very difficult to find anyone--of any age or demographic--who thinks about more than just his/her job, the last funny reel (s)he saw, what club they'll go to tomorrow night, etc. I have too many history books on my shelf. I've thought about where my country (the US) will be in 20 to 30 years from now, but I can't find anyone who can discuss it beyond plugging whatever political nostrums (s)he believes in--it's mostly the usual liberal or conservative dogma. Borrrrinnngggg.

Also, formal education is no guarantee of intelligence or enlightenment, either. I went through college; I have a bachelor's (although a useless one). From what I've seen in real life & even more, what I've seen online for well over two decades, I can assure you that conventionality exists in educated circles. Also, educated fools exist & they're not as rare as you might think. Take my word for it.

See the problem?