Hello, happy weekend! This week was a bit unremarkable for me too—just kind of went through the motions without anything particularly exciting. I did stumble across a new website, Magma, which seems to be a cool platform for artists. It's got drawing tools and a space for collaborating, but it doesn’t seem to have the popularity I expected. I joined a collab and, based on this screenshot, you can probably guess what my contribution was!
I also had a moment that made me realize how often I find myself laughing and smiling in social situations where I’m pretending to be interested. My little brother called me while I was talking to my boss and a colleague at work. The little bro was like “don’t start laughing that you crazy ‘a ha ha’ laugh”. I was really just thinking about how badly I wanted to get back to my desk, but then I reminded myself to make an effort to interact more.
So, I laugh, smile, nod, and add in the right comments—because that’s what keeps people happy. I think a lot of introverted people are familiar with the unspoken expectations of how they should respond in social situations. As I've gotten older, I’ve noticed that it’s become easier for me to slip into that role, even if it’s not always natural. When you're quiet or reserved, people often expect you to react a certain way—smiling, laughing, making small talk—and for the most part, I've learned how to do that without feeling too much discomfort.
It’s kind of like I’ve become an expert at playing my part in a social scene, making the effort to be present without it draining me as much as it used to. Is this a compromise?
(I currently have a straw page! it’s a super easy-non-commitment way to leave me a message. So far, interactions have been interesting. So buzz me on https://voke.straw.page/. I like hearing from you)
Digital artist and illustrator of neo pop art and more. Also part time animator. I strive to get better almost everyday. Grateful and hopeful. Good days and bad days, you're much appreciated following the journey