Awkward Introduction

First impressions are everything. However, we don’t always make the best impression when it comes to meeting someone new. But if you’re as socially awkward as I am, you dread every opportunity for social interaction because you’re convinced you’ll mess it up somehow. How simple would it be if we just went straight to the point?

Imagine instead of the typical “hey” or “how are you doing,” you’re given a monologue that goes something like the following.

A Very Honest Greeting

Hi, my name is Bryan Lordeus. I’m 24 at the time of writing this. I’m the third child of Haitian immigrant parents, yet never fully learned my native language. Instead, I’m proficient in English. So much so that I ended up getting a Bachelor’s degree in it.

I have the heart of a poet, the eyes of a visual artist, and the ears of a musician. I like trying different things, which may be a manifestation of my commitment issues. I create purely from impulse and instinct, so there’s no telling what my hands will create on any given day.

I’m addicted to women that won’t love me, afflicted by anger, and apathetic to anyone that slights me in any way. I have trust issues, relationship trauma, and more worries about tomorrow than wonder about today. I’m difficult to love and easy to hate. I’m suicidal on my worst days and barely surviving on my best

I’m a Christian. Not a perfect Christian, a bible-thumping Christian, or even a consistent Christian. Yet I still crawl towards the throne of grace when my race towards worldly treasure leaves me stranded. Maybe that’s stubbornness or sovereign grace. I’m still figuring that part out.

Being Ok with Not Being OK

In the previous, made-up greeting, I added in plenty of uncomfortable truths that I absolutely would never mention in casual conversation. This thought experiment, though a bit exaggerated, points to a truth that I believe all of us fail to accept: the human condition is most dangerous when it’s hidden. Complete transparency is not an easy skill to adopt. For my entire life, I’ve lived in the shadows of peak performances and perceived perfectionism. I always feel the need to prove my worth so I don’t come off as weak or useless. We all struggle with this, which…