I quite like the format of this post. It feels like one of those video games where you meet the protagonist in a casual, slice of life way. Along for the ride, during a cutscene, so to speak, a little disoriented, but you're there and your eyes trace your surroundings as you awkwardly settle into the environment. And it's there that you get to really meet and get to know the protagonist, and you slowly become together as one. And of course because there's no ending, it's not a statement but rather a prompt when you get to the present/end.
There's something similar in film, where the protagonist narrates their own past story, as it's playing out on the screen. Reliving the moment. For the moment, the past is the present as they retell the past. And sometimes the times are all mixed up and it feels like a story you control.
I definitely felt something similar to that reading this. The idea of an observer, or someone who's always there is an interesting one - as you mentioned, when feeling lonely, "who do you immediately call on?". There's this idea that even when you're by yourself, you're writing this story that you'll keep with all of your decisions, your inner monologue recorded in your memories. And when you call on someone, you might replay those thoughts for them, and ask them for their input. In a way, the reader is always following the story quietly but only appears in the plot when you ask them to.
Another interesting concept is the idea of reflective vs present people in your life. Going back to the video game metaphor it's like the difference between a character giving you instructions to prepare you for a battle in a cutscene, and the character that accompanies you during the battle giving you in-the-moment instructions. I'm curious whether you feel a similar divide; are these the same person for you?
One thing that stood out to me while reading this was just how much of the human experience is shared. A lot of the things you mentioned really do hit close to home, almost as if they're things I also thought about too.
Something I like about reading this kind of unfiltered, honest content is that it makes you realize that the stranger standing at the bus stop in the rain next to you might have a completely different life, but in the moment, you're both human and you're both facing the same challenges. And maybe, perhaps, if you share that with each other, you feel a bit better knowing everyone's fighting the same battles.
When I think back to the times I felt happiest in my own life, they were the ones in which I had people like the friends you describe to share my inner thoughts with. And I am glad that you have people like this in your life to share and be together with. It truly is a gift.
thank you for your thoughts larry i love the video game feeling analogy :’) to answer your question i’m not sure the people in my life can be easily divided between reflective and present, more so different moments we spend together might lean towards one or the other.
really enjoyed this format and writing. I felt like a time traveler reading how your states and thoughts changed over the months at the same time that other patterns kept popping up
I quite like the format of this post. It feels like one of those video games where you meet the protagonist in a casual, slice of life way. Along for the ride, during a cutscene, so to speak, a little disoriented, but you're there and your eyes trace your surroundings as you awkwardly settle into the environment. And it's there that you get to really meet and get to know the protagonist, and you slowly become together as one. And of course because there's no ending, it's not a statement but rather a prompt when you get to the present/end.
There's something similar in film, where the protagonist narrates their own past story, as it's playing out on the screen. Reliving the moment. For the moment, the past is the present as they retell the past. And sometimes the times are all mixed up and it feels like a story you control.
I definitely felt something similar to that reading this. The idea of an observer, or someone who's always there is an interesting one - as you mentioned, when feeling lonely, "who do you immediately call on?". There's this idea that even when you're by yourself, you're writing this story that you'll keep with all of your decisions, your inner monologue recorded in your memories. And when you call on someone, you might replay those thoughts for them, and ask them for their input. In a way, the reader is always following the story quietly but only appears in the plot when you ask them to.
Another interesting concept is the idea of reflective vs present people in your life. Going back to the video game metaphor it's like the difference between a character giving you instructions to prepare you for a battle in a cutscene, and the character that accompanies you during the battle giving you in-the-moment instructions. I'm curious whether you feel a similar divide; are these the same person for you?
One thing that stood out to me while reading this was just how much of the human experience is shared. A lot of the things you mentioned really do hit close to home, almost as if they're things I also thought about too.
Something I like about reading this kind of unfiltered, honest content is that it makes you realize that the stranger standing at the bus stop in the rain next to you might have a completely different life, but in the moment, you're both human and you're both facing the same challenges. And maybe, perhaps, if you share that with each other, you feel a bit better knowing everyone's fighting the same battles.
When I think back to the times I felt happiest in my own life, they were the ones in which I had people like the friends you describe to share my inner thoughts with. And I am glad that you have people like this in your life to share and be together with. It truly is a gift.
thank you for your thoughts larry i love the video game feeling analogy :’) to answer your question i’m not sure the people in my life can be easily divided between reflective and present, more so different moments we spend together might lean towards one or the other.
really glad you enjoyed and could resonate!
really enjoyed this format and writing. I felt like a time traveler reading how your states and thoughts changed over the months at the same time that other patterns kept popping up
thanks david :)) thats how i felt too haha