Is that a sad little title for this thread?
Hello I am an 18 year old dude, and I currently live with my parents. I have a very leisurely part time work schedule, and tomorrow will be the beginning of my second semester of community college.
So... Is it strange for someone my age, to have basically zero friends, and still be content? The only people who I really interact with are a couple faces at work, my sister, mother, and random strangers on gaming+political forums.
I do have someone I consider a life long friend, someone who I knew growing up, but we really don't hang out much at all anymore. I think I disappoint him by being so distant.
Would it be nice to have some friends, and a girl friend? Yes I think it probably would be. While recognizing this, I still don't really care to go out and meet people. I have a long history of being shy, but over the past year or so I've gained more confidence and happiness. People still call me shy, but I think they say that just because I don't have all that much to say. I don't seem to have much in common with the people around me and society in general. Whereareas other people my age are interested in working towards building upon some specific career path, and getting wasted on a daily basis, I have no interest in such things.
You could say my existence right now is comprised of observing the world as a whole (political,environmental,spiritual, changes etc) and exploring myself (intrapersonal/spiritual endeavors, plain self improvement).
So what am I? A "loner"? Is it normal to be a loner? Is this a phase, or some mental dysfunction of mine?
Some of you might have read Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth".
The following is an expert from his book, which is just a definition he provided that I want to focus on.
Quote:
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They are more inward looking by nature, and for them the outward movement into form is minimal. They would rather return home than go out. If they have any ambitions, they usually don't go beyond finding something to do that gives them a degree of independence. Some of them find it hard to fit into this world. Some are lucky to find a protective niche where they can lead a relatively sheltered life, a job that provides them with a regular income or a small business of their own. Some may feel drawn toward living in a spiritual community based community or monastery. Others may become dropouts and live on the margins of a society they feel they have little in common with. Some turn to drugs because they find living in this world too painful. Others eventually become healers or spiritual teachers, that is to say, teachers of being.
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There is more I could include, but I don't want this to be a discussion about Tolle's philosophy. The point is that paragraph seems to describe me fairly well.
Sorry for the essay, not certain where I'm going with this.. Well I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with my life of course. I've figured myself out, and what philosophies I want to live by, thats something to say at this age. But I still don't have the specifics, what I want to do for a living, will I get married, will I move, etc.
Have you encountered any hermits like me? Any input you could give.. How does an apparent loner go about living a fulfilling life? Should I change my ways? Am I stabbing in the dark here by asking such difficult questions.. lol