It may have began with my obsession with a small portion of the gundam universe and its model kits. I have always thoroughly enjoyed robots, gargoyles, angelic or foo-dog statues. They are reminiscent of my youth and young adulthood and how I learned to cope with anxiety. But that is a whole ‘nother blog I will likely never write. (⸝⸝> ᴗ•⸝⸝)
People I know of have definitely lost their senses to their environment and have long forgotten what it’s like to engage with others properly. I blame “smart” phones, technology, work/life balance, and over-consumption of entertainment. These phones contain manufactured and tailored content to encourage specific personalities and behaviours that are detrimental to communities. We have all become more self-aware and self-centered, but gradually, we have lost much sense in our communities in the process.
I feel that I am one of these people for other reasons; perhaps I will explain in a separate blog. However, despite being an introvert, I have always had the desire to reach out to people on occasion for a brief meeting. I genuinely want to know people are alive and doing well. Lacking social senses but also being high-sensing, I did not know how to engage or maintain relationships as a young adult. Now in my mid-30s, I have finally found comfort engaging with others in the most fun and entertaining way possible- tabletop gaming! The great thing about some tabletops is that they can be played either single player (by yourself) or with up to 4 or sometimes 8 other individuals.
Raised very sheltered, I was hard-wired to believe I would never even have acquaintances as I age. I am happy to have made many acquaintances and some new friends in several communities within the tabletop communities I occasionally play. Unlike modern entertainment, tabletops typically require you to practice speaking up and demands you to exercise your brain cells and think for once!
There is something so natural about the ability to meet people face to face and grow connections using all 5 senses versus the modern way many people tend to learn towards. Online connections are great but you cannot possibly replicate the same feelings of sharing photo albums or gathering and singing around a bright fire with a BBQ pit as you would in a pixel imperfect world.
