What did you find out about yourself

[Populist_Prole]

6. Though, while reserved by nature, I was/am very independent minded

I just didn't realize that as a younger adult, let alone a kid. My parents used to worry that, as a kid, I wasn't sociable or outgoing enough. Always telling me to smile more, laugh more. They just thought I was "shy". ( Damn I hate that catch-all cliche for anybody that isn't an obnoxious back-slapper ) I mean, I had friends, just not the multitudes of them they wish I had. They kept trying to force me into awkward situations and events with others in vain hope I'll connect with others. I hated them for that. Using that logic, the way to teach somebody to swim would be to throw them in the middle of a lake. I used to root for the bad-guys/heavy's in movies and TV shows just to piss them off.

Turns out I just never wanted anything to do with shallow, narrow, loudmouths. Didn't even want them as foul weather friends. I'm proud of myself now. I've found plenty of others who think like me and we get along great, and have become friends lasting 30 years or more. We can took about interesting stuff. Everyone else seems so narrow and shallow. I just can't connect with them. Though I try to be polite for decorum's sake or professional reasons, they still think me aloof. They're right: I am.