For the Thanksgiving weekend

[InternalDialogue]

Hi everyone. I haven't posted in the loners' forum before, but I browse the posts -- it's a parallel to how I feel in the real world a lot of the time. I watch, I listen, but I find it awkward to jump in and participate until I'm comfortable with the environment and have some confidence that I fit in.

This weekend I'll be sharing Thanksgiving with my family -- parents, two of my three siblings, and the husband and kids of one of my sisters. My family has stayed pretty close. All but one of my immediate family still lives in-state, and of those, only one lives outside of my city. I have no big problems with anyone in the family, and yet I'm different. My worldview, my politics, my opinion of innumerable things -- it's a little bit of all that.

Perhaps others in my family are putting on a happy face but really feel the same as I do. But if that's the case, I don't get the vibe from them. I appreciate having my family nearby, and yet I don't enjoy the time we spend together that much. I feel like I show up, make my appearance, say the right things, hug people at the right time, and then head back home, where I feel happier and more comfortable by myself.

All that is meant to express my feeling that I'm lucky. I don't always want to spend time with others, but I have the option. And I'm grateful for that.

Anyway, if you're spending Thanksgiving in the same manner as me this week, here's to knowing there are others out here who are sharing the experience.

If you're spending Thanksgiving alone, here's a hug and a toast. Sometimes you can't be where you'd like to be. Sometimes you prefer the solitude. Sometimes the holidays put our lives in stark contrast with the lives of others that society sees as "more normal."

If you're happy with solitude, cheers. I'm in that boat 90 percent of the time.

If you're not happy about it, I sincerely hope that you find the resources within and without you to make things better.

Happy Thanksgiving, DUers!

[LWolf]

1. I spent the day with 3 family members.

It was relaxed, stress-free, and fine. I was happy to end the day early (dusk) so that I could be by myself.

I should mention that one of the family members lives with me; we're both loners, so we were still "by ourselves" at the end of the day. One at one end of the house, one at the other. The only notice I've had that someone else is here is that I can here him warming up leftovers every once in awhile, lol.