15 Comments
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David Spinks's avatar

my brother...

as i was reading the first few paragraphs i felt like i could have written the same thing. always hung out with older groups. always felt more connected to adults than kids my age. so much resonance.

so as i'm reading and nodding along, it was a delightful little surprise to see you quote my post.

and just yesterday in therapy and today with ai, i've been doing some deep processing of complex childhood trauma around loneliness and lack of safety, and how it led me to pursue the work and career i've pursued. so all of this lands.

i know the transition you're navigating well. really fucking excited for you. and if you want to talk through anything, know that i'm in your corner always.

love you.

Jay Clouse's avatar

I've always felt we were cut from the same cloth! I love reading about YOUR journey for a lot of the same reasons. Love you too my friend

John Meese's avatar

Let's be friends

Srinivasan Chari's avatar

I am first time reader of your writing. I enjoyed reading your blog.

Jay Clouse's avatar

Thank you so much!

Tom Spark's avatar

Good read, man

Jay Clouse's avatar

thanks for reading!

Nicholas Whitaker's avatar

Love this reflection Jay. I've been a fan of your work for years. It inspired me in no small way to do what I'm doing now, which is helping people with exactly this challenge. It's usually people in corporate. High performing achievers who optimized for success, striving and doing but maybe skipped the BEing part. It's a beautiful path your on and you're asking the right questions. I look forward to following your journey, and if I can ever be of assistance I'd be happy to compare notes.

Be Rebellious!

Jay Clouse's avatar

Thanks so much for this. I'm glad you enjoyed the piece! I wasn't even clear on my intention for sharing. I've just been thinking about this a lot.

Nicholas Whitaker's avatar

It's a really important line of inquiry. Most of my clients wait until some sort of rupture in their life before they start asking those questions. It took a mental health collapse for me to really wrestle with those existential questions. But I can share from personal experience and from the experience of dozens of people I've worked with that once you start poking at that question, really beautiful things open up.

Tami-Adrian George's avatar

Born Inbetweener here. My mum called me The Ambassador growing up as I seemed to straddle everything (countries, races, languages, music and all the wonderful people that came with that) …and now I do the same in my career. Thanks for this. It’s scary, exciting and rewarding — the perfect blend of living!

Valerie Flynn's avatar

Thank you for sharing your experience. I don't know what to say. I do know what's it's like to be on the bridge between, fitting into neither side perfectly.

I don't really know how to create community. I'm a member of several communities, online and in real life. It's easier to join those that I don't fit into perfectly than figure out how to gather like-minded souls.

Brad Miller's avatar

Always size up. You can wear a headband, skullcap, or wrap something around your head to help it fit more snugly.

Jay Clouse's avatar

Inevitably that’s what we always chose