There's a young guy who comes to our meeting a couple of times a week. He suffers from some pretty debilitating mental illnesses. Not scary mental illness but the kind that makes it difficult for him to navigate the world. He has crises from time to time which require brief hospitalizations and a change in his medication schedule. I sense he's quite bright - he may be one of those people who intuitively handles electronics - but he comes across as somewhat odd and tentative and a little hard to talk to. He's a wonderful guy who's never going to be able to handle life in the way that you and I would consider conventional. I try to really make him feel welcome and noticed. Big hugs and questions about his life, that sort of thing. He came up to me recently and asked if I wanted to "hang out."
Sigh. I do not want to hang out. It's not thrilling or interesting to talk to. Again, he's not completely compromised but he's not running on all cylinders, either. I'm happy to help out anyway I can . . . I want to help out anyone I can . . . I want to help out in a manner and fashion to my liking and this is not hanging out with this guy. This sounds pretty selfish - which means it is pretty selfish - but it's not scary selfish, anyway. I do have my own interests and activities that occupy my time and the meetings are for my benefit, too. So . . . I relent. I told him the two days next week that I'm certain to be at the meeting and invited him to join me for coffee. He pointed out he doesn't attend on those days and asked if I would come on a couple of days that I don't attend but that he does.
Sigh. Whadda ya goin' to do?
More will be revealed. Not today, mind you, but they will be revealed.
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