Misconstrued

mis·con·strue (verb)

/ˌmiskənˈstro͞o/

to interpret (something, especially a person's words or actions) wrongly.

I've come to the realization that there are some people I simply cannot have face to face conversations with right now, and not because of Covid!

It may sound strange, but I simply don’t feel comfortable with the immediacy that some people bring out and/or require when having a discussion. I become overwhelmed which leads to misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and often times disappointment and disagreements that could have been avoided altogether. I need time to process what I hear and mull things over a bit before I can accurately comment or respond, and some people simply don't allow for that so I need to learn to make the space for it myself. Not to mention, that a handful of people just know how to push my buttons harder than others, and I really don’t need that right now!

Conversely, there are a few people that I could talk to for hours, effortlessly, whether it be a serious heart-to-heart, casual chitchat, or a long overdue bitch session. I don’t feel as though I am put on the spot, that I am obliged to respond to anything immediately and, because of this, I don’t feel any discomfort or defensiveness coming out which is often what leads things to be misconstrued! While these people certainly know how to push my buttons – they just don’t. These are my people!

One of the biggest barriers between two people is communication, and I need those around me to understand that I am going through some things right now and I need both time and space to work it out if I ever want to close the gap.