flâneur

My six stages of learning to be a socially normal person

sashachapin.substack.com · 3,221 words · saved by 5 readers

a slow progression

My six stages of learning to be a socially normal person a slow progression Sasha Chapin Sep 19, 2025 2,901 77 290 Share The other day, someone told me, “I can’t imagine you ever being awkward with people.” And I thought, oh God, yes, say it to me again, again, put it in my veins. Tell me I’m a natural performer. There are no sweeter words. Because of course the absolute opposite is true. I’ve tried so hard to learn how to connect with people. It’s all I ever wanted, for so long. I can still remember the pain of my youth, when the brightness of my experience felt like a wasted gift, a rude exc

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