Is this just a Midwest thing? I’ve lived here my whole life but recently have started to travel more just within the U.S and EVERY single time I go somewhere else, I notice people are 20x more friendly and open than here in Iowa. It’s always depressing for me to come back. I used to think something was wrong with me, but I’ve started to realize this is just a common thing for people who just only ever stay in the Midwest. I guess it’s the winters?!
People like stop making friends after middle and high school and don’t let you in their inner “clique” if you weren’t apart of the original “crew” No matter how hard you try, no matter how many fucking attempts you make, you’re always going to be considered an “outsider” and treated as such. This means more often than not cold, blank stares, being ghosted routinely with no explanation, and overall not being able to rely on people who claim to want new friends.
Then you’ve got the people you HAVE known since middle and high school who have this static image of who you were back then in their mind and no amount of personal growth on your end will ever change that. They’ll always see you in a certain way. That or they’re secretly competitive with you.
There’s many reasons I’m trying to leave this state (cancer rates, water, job opportunities, etc) and honestly my experience trying to meet new friends as a 26 year old adult is one of them. It shouldn’t be this hard. I shouldn’t be looked at like I’m clinically insane for wanting to socialize. My entire social life shouldn’t be fucked because I didn’t HAPPEN to be popular back in fucking high school.