Good for both you and your friend -- you, Rob, for being approachable for him to share, and him for being brave and willing to test the bounds of your friendship. I (of course) think of it as a Venn diagram: If I restrict my friendships to the small, tight overlapping region -- those traits I only share with others -- I miss a lot of opportunities to grow friendships; if I broaden beyond that, I meet a host of interesting people, with whom, it turns out, I have much in common. As always, thanks, Rob.
Well, as I say, I like to think that I was approachable. It's a difficult thing when it's a new thing to deal with in your life. No experience with a thing often leads us to our worst selves. But we made it through. And yes, while I am not gregarious and I don't spend great amounts of time with people, I value the diversity in the people I have met and can count as friends and good acquaintances. But the main point is that we can't let our discomfort dictate how we interact with people who are different. If we did, as you point out, our lives would be poorer and good people would not have the allies they need when they are being attacked.
Good for both you and your friend -- you, Rob, for being approachable for him to share, and him for being brave and willing to test the bounds of your friendship. I (of course) think of it as a Venn diagram: If I restrict my friendships to the small, tight overlapping region -- those traits I only share with others -- I miss a lot of opportunities to grow friendships; if I broaden beyond that, I meet a host of interesting people, with whom, it turns out, I have much in common. As always, thanks, Rob.
Well, as I say, I like to think that I was approachable. It's a difficult thing when it's a new thing to deal with in your life. No experience with a thing often leads us to our worst selves. But we made it through. And yes, while I am not gregarious and I don't spend great amounts of time with people, I value the diversity in the people I have met and can count as friends and good acquaintances. But the main point is that we can't let our discomfort dictate how we interact with people who are different. If we did, as you point out, our lives would be poorer and good people would not have the allies they need when they are being attacked.