Thoughts.com Blogs - Waddya mean you don't wanna be my friend?!

So, I've decided to only allow my friends on my Friend list to view my personal posts. I am now ready to write other posts that are available for viewing by everyone else. Boundaries are important in my work and I believe, they are necessary here on thoughts, as well. I am a pretty open and generous person, but this system available to me here on thoughts works for me.

If you've read my posts and feel a kinship or a connection with me or what I write about, then no doubt, you have commented. I answer every one of your comments and always appreciate getting them! The stars are also a real perk available to us. We can brighten someone's day with a comment or a bunch of stars. A small thing that can reap huge rewards.

If you are not on my Friend list, your comment to my post has caught my attention and I've clicked on your profile and read some of your posts which in turn, has prompted me to immediately press the button and introduce myself and ask about friendship. Now, on occasion, I've found to my horror (because I'm 50 and have limited brain cells available) that I've mistakenly thought that a person WAS on my Friend list only to find out that they weren't! In that case, either they've brought it to my attention and I've apologized and immediately, pressed the Friend button OR I've discovered it by checking out my Friend list and wondered why that person wasn't on it! Then, I've rectified the friend situation! There was a time when my profile was private and I didn't know it. It happens.

If I've missed anyone whom I comment and email with, I'm sorry! It is not intentional! PLEASE let me know if I've missed you! If you haven't answered my friend request, then that's okay, too. We all come from all walks of life, have different life experiences and we can't ALL like each other, BUT, honestly, reading my posts might not be to your liking, but that doesn't mean that in life you wouldn't like me! Know what I mean?

You might think so and so comes across as preachy, arrogant, a know-it-all, fake, certifiably nuts, slutty, dangerous, nasty, opinionated, but we cannot truly know anyone 100% on this site and make judgements about them from a couple of posts. We are certainly entitled to our views and feelings, but without first-hand knowledge, we are probably way off the mark about them.

There a couple of people during my few months here on thoughts.com who have ignored my Friend request for whatever reason. They are not open to me and that's okay. We haven't clicked or I've said something that they truly dislike in a post or a comment. That's okay, too. So be it.

I feel that we need to give people enough room to be themselves, rant, be immature, wise when they feel the lightbulb moment, preachy because they just might know something about what they're talking about regardless of their age and be themselves in a safe, loving environment. Isn't this why we're here?

I am the first born in my family and at an early age, I was put into the caregiver role (age 9). The adults in my family weren't particularly available to me and emotionally unable to deal with life and each other. They were doing the best they knew how with what they had to work with and I know this now. I had no choice, but to gather my sister to me and protect us. I began to be self-reliant and grew to distrust anyone in "authority" and this continued well into my 20's. Yes, a bit rebellious and I would add very intuitive about people and situations.

I was sought after for advice (from adults in my life) and I was told that I was clear-headed and grounded. I believe I was and I was because I had to be. There was no one for me to go to (except to my grandmother during the summer months when I visited her) for a very long time.

I have come to terms with my childhood and my father, but we all are products of our environments and our life experiences. I am still very self-reliant, strong, strong-willed, opinionated, at times preachy, and I care deeply about people. I care deeply for everyone I've "met" on this site and I appreciate you and your words.

Give people a chance. Try to read and maybe understand a different viewpoint. Engage and be open to other viewpoints other than your own or from the people you "click" with on this site. Sit with your feelings for a bit and see what comes into your mind. I've found that when I've read something that I just can't even fathom or understand, that post has stayed with me and nags at me! Inevitably, what I am not open to is usually exactly what I need to see and read at that moment.

Peace and love to you all.