RECIPROCITY

There's something significant in getting a reciprocal response from another human being. It's almost as if it justifies our existence. Could you imagine a world in which every other human being on the entire planet ignored the Dickens out of you? It would be almost maddening. Maybe to some, some would no doubt, be comfortable with the idea. Even if you are completely abstinent from human interaction, there would be a piece of you that still longs for that attention. I am a bit of a loner myself, and actually do fine without human interaction. You could refer to me as an introvert or even a hermit, but, I have a core group of people I choose to be around. Despite having a penchant for solitude, I do enjoy large crowds of strangers. However, these are people I do not know, nor do I have to interact with. Interestingly enough, I consider myself a people person, and I actually get along with a wide variety of people. So, I'm not some lonely cynical asshole, and I have to be alone, therefore I'm used to it. I actually enjoy company, but, don't necessarily need it.

The twist tho, is when I've become accustomed to certain interaction, and when I don't receive it, it gets to me. It can be irritating, or bothersome, but, not so much that it makes me angry. For instance, I love my family, and when there's laspes in time, when I don't interact with them....it bothers me deeply. So, I suppose I fall into the category of requiring reciprocal human interaction. Its evident, when I say hello to a stranger and they don't say hello back, it irritates me. Or, say I hold the door open for someone, and they don't say thanks, but, that may be more of respect/manners issue. I do enjoy interaction with humans, but I must say, if I was the last person on earth, I'm not entirely sure I would enjoy it more. I would miss people. My favorite thing in the world, is people watching. Although, I'm not entirely sure, people watching would qualify on any scale as interaction. I like to study people, if that makes sense. I don't do it as much now, but, I do enjoy it.

There's something that happens when you are acknowledged and recognized, by other human beings. You feel validated in a way. It's almost as if you matter, and that's important to the psyche. Being lonely or ignored can change you're entire persona, and really affect your mental stability. Its one thing if you develop a core group of people you interact with on a regular, or even semi-regular basis, then you don't need other interaction. This is why when you're ignored by someone you have a crush on, as a kid, its devastating. Over time, we become a little more desensitized, so much to the point we don't try to interact as much, but, that yearning for interaction is there. If you met a great person, and thought they were awesome, but, then they ignored you every other time you came around them, it would be a significant blow to your self esteem. You would feel compelled to question, what it is you're lacking. Human interaction is necessary in my opinion, it helps to maintain sanity, by reminding you that there are others, either similar or completely different, but there are others out there. Even if it's a surface level interaction and nothing deep, just knowing that humanity exists and you are still apart of it, validates your living in the first place.     -   925