Shashue 🌳🛖⛰️ on Nostr: This a long one #nostr fam. Feel free to bookmark and maybe come back to it when time ...

This a long one #nostr fam. Feel free to bookmark and maybe come back to it when time is on your side.

Missed Opportunity: A Lunch Date in Florida

As I sit down to write this #Nostr note, I can't help but think about the missed opportunity that was my lunch date just a few hours ago. Florida the Sunshine State has its charms, but for someone like me who lives in Pennsylvania, it's not an ideal place to call home - at least, not permanently.

My mom moved to Florida from New York some 30 years ago and due to recent decline in her health, I've been staying with her to help manage her care. It's a taxing situation, but one that requires my presence. Amidst the chaos of caregiving, I had the opportunity to go on a lunch date with a woman I met through our shared love for Cane Corsos.

Our initial interactions were centered around our dogs and their playdates, which was all about the canines' wellbeing. It wasn't until this particular lunch date that we finally got a chance to focus solely on each other. No mom, no dog and no cell phones.

The conversation flowed easily, the venue was delightful, and the weather was perfect for a post-lunch walk on the beach, which we did. Oh and found a cool beach spot that I can bring the dogstr to in Deerfield Beach. 👍🏽
I digress....
So why did I feel like I had missed an opportunity? As I reflected on our conversation during my drive home, it dawned on me that I might have unintentionally given off the wrong impression. Here's how my thoughts went:

"I'm over 50 years old and live with my mom."

"I don't have a 'real' job - at least, not in the traditional sense."

"I can't wait to get back home (to Pennsylvania) and leave this place."

It's not that I'm ashamed of these facts; they simply aren't the most appealing aspects of myself. And while our conversation was engaging and enjoyable, I couldn't shake the feeling that my circumstances may have overshadowed any other potential connections.

As someone who values authenticity, I know that honesty is crucial in relationships - be it romantic or platonic. But sometimes, there's a fine line between being honest and oversharing. In this instance, I wonder if I inadvertently steered the conversation towards my caregiving role and life circumstances, thus creating an impression that wasn't entirely accurate.

In retrospect, I realize that I should have focused more on our shared interests, like our love for Cane Corsos and Florida's beautiful beaches. Instead, I allowed my current reality to take center stage, potentially scaring off any romantic prospects before they even had a chance to develop.

So, what can we learn from this missed opportunity? For one, it's essential to strike a balance between being open and honest with others while still presenting the best version of ourselves. A thing I know, but hadn't really thought of our lunch as a date, until was basically on my way home after our date.

And for those of us that find ourselves in unconventional or challenging circumstances, like caregiving, it's crucial to remember that our lives are multifaceted - and so are our interests.

In the end, I hope this experience serves as a reminder to be more mindful of how we present ourselves to others and to seek out meaningful connections that bring joy to both parties involved. After all, life is too short for missed opportunities - especially in a state like Florida where the sun always shines.

This may all be a manifestation on my mind. My brain does these mental gymnastics sometimes and it's usually unwarranted. So maybe my post mortem assessment is entirely off. We'll see where it goes from here.

#TheEnd

Hey, if you made it this far, thank you fren. This was longer than my usual #Nostr notes, so I appreciate your time.


#RandomBrainRants