Sometimes, I don’t like people very much.
In theory they’re great – the idea of other humans is very warm and fuzzy indeed. I love them between the pages of a book, on telly and even on social media.
It’s just in real life they’re sometimes a struggle, with their noise and opinions. I think they will consume my precious resources, my time and energy. So then I decide not to bother with them. Obviously not the family, close friends or my colleagues, they don’t count. But the feeling grows – blossoming from a wispy social unease to a rock-solid fact.
I become convinced of it. Of the pointlessness of people (present company excepted). So, without a backward glance, I stop bothering with them.
It’s only when I spend a weekend like the one I just did – in the company of lots of lovely near strangers – that I realise what I’ve been missing.
Of course, I knew the yoga was going to be refreshing and the scenery spectacular. What I hadn’t banked on was the benefit that came from being in easy, warm company. It wasn’t about discovering a brand new BFF and taking leave of each other was just as easy as being together had been. But something happens when people come together to do the same thing, without competition or conflict. I don’t know – you could call it energy or synergy or something. The name doesn’t really matter. What matters is the end result – feeling happier, like yourself only sleeker. Odd, but in a good way.
The point is that it may well be time to go and find some people to be with. Not for anything in particular and you don’t have to get involved in each other’s lives. Just for a while, together. And you’ll feel all the better for it.
Please remind me of this when I next return to the cave of the curmudgeonly hermit.
Isn’t there a saying – ‘Hell is other people’? Or maybe I’ve just made that up! But I can definitely see how heaven is other people and hell is other people too! I have times when I am in such company as you have experienced in your post and you think how wonderful people are and being part of the human race is! Then there are times when other people are hell and you want to avoid – fortunately these episodes are rarer! There is something very soothing and bolstering though about female energy – there’s nothing like a group of good, strong women to make you feel like you can take on the world. I enjoyed your post Ellen.
That’s it, isn’t it. Good strong women and no nonsense. Does the soul good.