Change is uncomfortable because now I’m noticing that I was hurting so much that I stayed in the past and I never moved forward. Like, everybody feels like they did change in a way. I never did because I never really changed. I just grew up, but I never really moved forward. Maybe that’s why I remember my childhood — because I never moved.
People change. People grow into whatever they want to grow, and certainly they are confident even if they are mediocre. For me, confidence is not a given. Confidence is about knowing. It’s knowledge, and I feel dumb. So if I feel dumb, how can I be confident?
For the longest time, I’ve always been praised for being smart and kind, and if I don’t have that knowledge, then I don’t deserve to be confident. That’s the way I see it. But then again, I don’t have proof that I’m not smart, because all the choices I’ve made brought me here. So why don’t I feel smart? Why don’t I feel confident? Why don’t I trust my looks? Why don’t I feel like I’m enough?
I never struggled with self-image when I was a kid. I never cared, but somewhere along the line, I just thought that I wasn’t enough — like my face was distorted, or that I’m never going to be enough. Obviously, I know that European people are the beauty standard, but there are people who are POC that are relatively beautiful. So why can’t I just think that I am one of those POC people that are beautiful?
Because I do stand out in a weird way or another. I don’t talk like people my age. I sound very eloquent, especially eloquent and polite, which can turn people off. I don’t know — it’s just the way I carry myself. People get the creeps or something. I don’t blame them. I’m just tired of hiding who I am.
It feels like when I moved to this stupid-ass country, I shut off my light. And when I went back to the DR, it was hard for me to go back to that person I was. I don’t know — that’s why I think I’m on the spectrum, because as long as I can remember, people would rather throw rocks at me instead of elevating me. I guess that’s why my family always wanted me to be free. It’s kind of sad, though.
It’s hard for me, because now I’m noticing it. I like the attention, but sorry — I don’t really want to get close to you, because your stares make me uncomfortable (and hopefully so, because they’re lustful). I don’t know — I feel bad about getting stared at that way. I actually like the attention, but I know it’s shameful. I feel like I should be ashamed. But maybe I should talk to my therapist about this.
This day and age, people don’t look into the person — they look at what they look like. It’s hard, because what do you mean? It’s kind of crazy, bro. Like, I really want to be loved, not lusted after. I feel like people just forgot how to take everything slow and not be obnoxious. I feel like people are obnoxious all the time — especially adults. Like, get your mind out of the gutter.
Not that I want to be conservative — fuck that, I’m pretty fucking gay. It’s just that, what happened to that? Everybody’s got a secret agenda, like, who is better than me, whatever. “You’re shitty, you’re not, you’re a weirdo,” or whatever. I don’t like this type of shit.
I just want to be left alone. That’s why I don’t go outside — because it’s draining. I just want to be left alone.
You know what I want in life? I don’t even know why I thought that I wanted to be in a relationship when actually being in a relationship is so aggravating. I don’t have the energy or the time right now to waste on someone, for that matter. It’s so draining. I care too much, and people are so fucking nonchalant. I’m too challant, okay?
I want to know everything. I’m a curious person. When people actually talk about their hobbies or what they like, I am genuinely interested, and I feel bad that I don’t understand what they’re talking about. But just hearing them talk about what they like gives me a little bit of hope in humanity. I guess it’s not the same for everyone. I guess it’s not the same for everyone.