"I talk big on here, but when it comes to turning my words into actions, then comes the problem." - I think everyone is like that. It's really hard to put yourself out there, make yourself vulnerable, because no one wants to be rejected. Sometimes though, you've got to be the one to make the first step otherwise, you'll never get anywhere.

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for one is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk rejection.
To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or love.
Only a person who risks is free.
-- Author Unknown

I fear that once I get into a relationship, I might get hurt because I've been wounded in the past and seeing my scars every day reminds me of why I shouldn't get into a relationship with a lot of people in the first place. I think I'm afraid to be open again because I fear that I might get hurt.

@listen_to_The_Pixies@xanga - I like to turn to a quote I learned from Scrubs: "Time spent wishing is time wasted."

@heterophobic_female_chauvinist@xanga - Cheers to that and here's to the new year :)

@amissong@xanga - I really like this it's so true.

I'm the type to do my own thing & along the way I'll encounter people who will find something about me to dislike & I'll think of it as their loss. That said, it does get lonely at times when I'm the odd one out. I do harbor a fear of rejection but I figure it'll work out in the end. I never had a set group of friends in high school.. I just drifted from group to group & never really had any "best" friends... It all changed once I attended college. I realized that it doesn't matter what people think, I shouldn't let it get to me & that I should just continue to do my own thing.. I was friendly & cheery to all those around me. I joined InterVarsity on campus & was a regular attendee in a Bible study group. I also joined a sorority for a different experience. I'm an introvert by nature but it's good that I was able to step out of my comfort zone in college. You're not alone. You do need to take that leap of faith & just put yourself out there. You're bound to come across people who won't like you for one reason or another but don't let that hinder you from creating new friendships & relationships. :)

I can relate since I often avoid social contact except with the few choice people who have either a) known me for years or b) I am thrown into contact with and it's rude to ignore them (such as roommates, some classmates, online friends).  Then again, it's part social anxiety and part being satisfied with the friends I have.  Besides, I like sitting in my dark room by myself for days on end.  

Though we have different religions (or I really don't have a religion at all) I understand how you feel. I've wish I've had the courage to go up to someone and just say, "Hey your awesome, you want to hang out?". It's something that a person must work on. I'm getting better at starting conversations with people, that I've never meet. It takes a while to build up your resistance to rejection and ridicule but it's worth it in the end. I personally think in college, people form cliques and completely refused to look at of these cliques after their made. They seem happy with the friends they have already even if these friends are not there for you when you need them. I'm trying to find that new group of friends I can depend on and that won't completely annoy me. But you also have to make room in your life for them too. 

I have been having problems in college with making friends for this reason. I'm friendly, but I just don't go out of my way anymore at all. I tend to be more avoidant of social contact than not- not really to the extreme or anything, but still enough that it impacts me. Part of it is because I find spending time with most people is more of a chore than anything (and I'd rather be sitting around bored, than doing chores), but part of it is also that I get very scared of coming off as too clingy or needy. When I was a little kid I wasn't aware of the issue, and often felt rejected by other friends for this reason (I think the same can go for the opposite sex- however, I lucked out in THAT department). I am going to personally make more of an effort to show interest in befriending other people I get along with this next semester of school. But anyway, I just wanted to point out that I relate to this entry. And like you said, I think a lot of others can as well.

Great post.

"I digress...if we were to throw our worries to the wind, what would happen? Why don't we?"

Like other posters have mentioned, fear of rejection drives a lot of humans. The reason why many kids are so open is because they haven't learned rejection - only when they experience that sting do they become gun-shy.

I have tried to throw my worries to the wind and try not to care what other people think about me. It's a conscious decision, and I'm always working on it. But it's really, really difficult. It's easier to not risk rejection.

I'm having a problem making friends in college for this reason. However, I've probably been to at least eight different clubs' meetings this semester, I occasionally speak to people I sit beside in class, I've met a lot of people through my roommate, but while I like my  roommate, some of the people I meet through her are pretty obnoxious. That, and when I do meet these new people, I'm rarely invited along, and I feel rude asking to tag along.

So, I like to think that if I do what I enjoy doing (certain clubs, etc.), I'll meet people that share interests with me.

Although, I think as part of a New Year's Resolution, I want to start being able to initiate the conversations; my one major downfall this semester has been the fact that I rarely speak to people unless spoken to--then, I'm friendly.