Friends

It is unexpected how much I subconsciously I relied on casual socializing to keep my sanity. I am decidedly introverted and my subconscious is generally working to keep me away from other humans; focused on whatever rat-race task I face that day. My mind is struggling to maintain clarity in the face of the usual pressures without the usual assortment of experiential release.

Despite being consciously grateful for the people around me, I took for granted the intellectual and emotional benefits of grabbing a beer every so often. I had not realized how much I used a variety of people around me for different emotional and intellectual releases. Clearly, I did not appreciate the simple visual stimulation of going to a new place, or tasting something from somewhere different for the first time. I had never considered that I was not socializing for simply fun, but to maintain mental stability as well. I took these things for granted and now my subconscious is starved for balance.