inbloom - boy oh boy, are you one of the bravest people! I haven't reached the place where I can confess that I feel marginalized. I've also been trying to reach out to people (just recently). It's hard because I also feel rejection easily and also because there are not people around who are on my 'wave length'.

I'll share an experience I had today which can demonstrate the results of trying to come out of my cocoon. I made a determined effort last month to learn how to swim. I've always been shy about getting into a swim suit and so I hadn't. But I felt that I needed to be bold and brave and give it a try. So I've worked hard internally to overcome my shyness and I've been going to the pool for the past two months. Scary because I don't know anyone at the pool and scary because I don't have a fit body but I did it anyways.

Well, people have been really nice at the pool and have helped me with techniques to learn how to swim. I've become more and more comfortable at the pool and feel less and less like an outcast.

Well, something really awesome happened today that I feel is the result of stretching my comfortable boundaries. I'm out of town and I decided to take my swim suit with me. (Why? I have no idea) But, an acquaintance of mine invited me to go to an outdoor pool with her and I did! You have no idea how impossible that would have been just 3 months ago with the emotional shyness that I lived with.

I had the most fun that I've had in years. It was very cold outside but the pool was 'delicious'. Palm trees and hot tub and I was in bliss. My acquaintance may have become a good friend and we laughed and laughed and laughed for hours.

And all of this because I forced myself to reach out a little bit and to not fear rejection so much. It was tough but so far the reward has been very high.

So, look at you. You are reaching out here on PC and look at the response. You and I both are learning how to better navigate the world of 'people' and I have confidence that it's going to work out well for both of us.