Puppy Love

"I'm awkward and uncomfortable socially."  Jordan said to me in the summer before ninth grade. She liked a boy and the boy liked her back. :)  We talked about this for a while because she was very uncomfortable with the whole situation. She wasn't sure what made her more nervous, the possibility of rejection or that he may want to hang out.

So what's the big deal?  She was thirteen, which can possibly go down as the most awkward 365 days in any person's life.   

But I think there's a difference between an awkwardly-average kid, and one who may have deeper issues going on.  A child like Jordan worried about being uncomfortable and awkward.  I'm no expert, but I'm fairly certain this could only make matters worse. I may have been ridiculously dorky at this age, but I sure in heck didn't worry about being that way.  I guess I was blissfully clueless.

Could this be what separates "average" people from those who have more serious anxiety?  If you're worried about the level of your uncomfortable-ness, that kind of separates you from the other goofy kids. You're worried about being worried, which ultimately leads to more worry.  This can't be good.

Today I have a much better understanding of how this cycle feels.  As I have written before, life has a way of changing people. 💩

All I knew was I didn't want her anxiety to stop her from participating, and having a "normal" teenage life. 

Thank you.

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