THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE... (I HOPE...) THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE... (I HOPE...) THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE... (I HOPE...) THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE...
LETTERS TO STRANGERS
...WORDS I HAVE POSTED PUBLICALLY IN VARIOUS PLACES IN RESPONSE TO OTHERS WORDS...


...a friend is a stranger waiting to be met...

Ideas

August 24, 1998

>
>Has anyone ever been so lonely they feel they're trapped in a box with
>no way out?
>
>Sometimes I dread weekends because I know I will be by myself with no
>one to call or be with. All my friends are now married w/families so
>I don't see them that much anymore. Sometimes I'll tell them I'm bored
>and need to get a life. They tell me to get a girlfriend. I agree, but
>how, I'm kind of shy.
>
>Do you just walk into a club, walk up to someone you find attractive
>and say "will you be my girlfriend?"
>
>I do some things w/friends, but spend about 90% of my time alone.
>Sometime I feel like I just can't take it anymore, trapped in a box.
>
>Any ideas?
>

I made friends off line when I lived in Orlando by searching ICQ lists for "local" ICQ users... ICQ is a communication program with millions of registered users... then there are web sites and chat rooms, search for your local area... some areas have a lot of potential web connections, some have very little (like where I am now, Buffalo, has next to none)...

and then, offline, you can volunteer at some organization that you care about... or join a club or activity that you enjoy... finding friends and a relationship among people who share your interests is usually easier than reaching out at random at nightclubs or bars or in general public...

you could try personal ads - print or phone... I tried them a couple of times a few years ago and met a few people, but didn't have much success... that doesn't mean people don't find friends that way though...

the main thing is get out and look at people, look into their eyes and show interest... not desperation or hunger, just interest and curiosity and respect about who they might be... smile at anyone who looks at you... you'd be surprised to see how few people actually look back and most who do will look away suddenly as if you caught them doing something wrong... we seem so afraid of eye contact in this modern world...

and yet, someone who cares enough to look and smile just might get through that fear and you can be that person... you just have to want to care and be cared about enough...

I hope you find a way to find what you seek...

honest love, ric

IRL (IN REAL LIFE): please understand my life is so busy these days that
my on-line time is limited to weekends, so expect responses from me only
once a week for a while (but I still eagerly look for your responses :)

typos are free, so I include lots ;)
something to say to me?... write! :) (click reply to author)
when I have time, I'll include my ICQ # again :)
for more info, other paths (most yet to be discovered or created), and
possibly shocking disclosures (or at least more babble) check out
http://www.hotstart.com/wp/hotstartanon.shtml
and for the latest info about me in this life (real? ;) surf over to
http://members.wbs.net/homepages/a/n/o/anonanon.html
* * * * * pages last added to on August 21, 1998 * * * * *

"someone who needs
someone who feels
someone who sees
can find you"

~ Moody Blues ~

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