to find one's self.

I had an interesting and very unexpected conversation with a friend of mine last night, in which he shared with me a part of his past. I absolutely love conversations where I get to learn more about my friends, and to discover what made them who they are today.

A little background. This person that shared his story with me last night -- is super charismatic, fun loving, super friendly & can pretty much carry on a conversation with just about anyone.

On a side note, I admit that I envy those types of personalities quite often. The extroverted types that have no trouble forming bonds wherever they go. I feel like i often have to struggle/work for the ones I have. Not that I think I can't connect with people... but it takes more effort to form those threads of connection for a personality type like mine vs. super extroverted types (i think). I also suppose that on my end, I feel like it takes more for me to 'feel' a connection with someone than just a couple of conversations will get me. It takes a certain level of trust.

Anyway, so back to my friend's story. He had a unique childhood growing up, being displaced and moved from state to state, city to city consistently every 1 - 1.5 years of his life all throughout elementary school. He was able to pick up making friends quickly, had to make himself very likable and eventually got great a making a lot of new friends wherever he went. But also, knowing that in another year -- he would lose all of them.

He expressed that it just became easier and easier to make friends as he went a long, but harder to lose them. Considering in the late 80's and early 90's -- cells phones and the internet wasn't exactly a prevalent source of communication.

I started to ask him if he found himself putting up barriers -- not allowing himself to become close to the friends he made. But he immediately stopped me mid sentence, at "did you end up finding yourself ---"

And that was the key.

He ended up finding himself.

He found himself out in the wilderness, discovering new ways to do things. Art. Creating. Building. Discovering. Figuring out how things work. Camping. Hiking. Mountain biking. Rock climbing. Everything a kid could do with the backwoods in Kentucky, he did it. He had great role models around, uncles who were outdoors-men who had great life experience and things to share with him. He was happy, and he is happy. His safe place is the world around him.

Now, it's my turn.