I’ve often felt like an outsider - not being sure where I belonged, wishing I could get “inside” a culture, a community, an industry. I thought getting in would make me feel safe, powerful, or both. But the truth is my heart is drawn to the other outsiders, because I believe they (we) are the ones who have the best view of what’s going on.
Yet another fascinating post Jess. My own experience fwiw is of being an outsider all my adult life and mostly fairly comfortable as such. It would take far too long and be much too self-involved to go into details but 2 of many examples are being a long-term serious depressive - the mentally unwell are certainly outsiders and being politically far-left-wing; interestingly in both cases (as in all the others) there are groups where one can become an 'insider' - in the case of mental health hospitalisation forces this upon one (I don't claim this is necessarily beneficial but I certainly ceased to be an outsider) ; in the case of politics by choosing one's friends and activities. Just rambling - have to think it over properly.
Yet another fascinating post Jess. My own experience fwiw is of being an outsider all my adult life and mostly fairly comfortable as such. It would take far too long and be much too self-involved to go into details but 2 of many examples are being a long-term serious depressive - the mentally unwell are certainly outsiders and being politically far-left-wing; interestingly in both cases (as in all the others) there are groups where one can become an 'insider' - in the case of mental health hospitalisation forces this upon one (I don't claim this is necessarily beneficial but I certainly ceased to be an outsider) ; in the case of politics by choosing one's friends and activities. Just rambling - have to think it over properly.
I can totally relate! I feel like an insider in certain groups of artists, an outsider in others.