You Aren't Alone

No matter how lonely you may feel there's always going to be somebody there if you look hard enough. This is the important part of joining community; you have that support when you need it. This isn't just in terms of if you have a question you want to ask somebody (yeah, that's awesome!) but also knowing that you have someone out there that will have your back or you or can just simply talk to you. This can sometimes make a world of difference.  

You need to realize that you're not all by yourself. You may think you're a solo act, that you may have lived your life in total isolation. We're artists; it's not that hard to feel like you're totally alone even in a crowd. For a lot of us, that made us easy to bully and we carry those psychological scars; this also means that we tend to be loners. 

However, you need to realize that it's not that hard to actually just open up and ask for a little bit of help. You can always go on to an artist group and at the very least live vicariously through people around you; it may feel a little shallow but it's still realizing that, hey, there are other people like you, there are people that share your interests, there are people that share your goals. 

They are your people and if you have a problem odds are good that someone else within that group has had the same or similar problem. If you need someone to talk to odds are good that you can find someone to get some advice from.

And if you want a really scary thought: This means that you can potentially be the person that others depend on as well. That means that you can throw a lifesaver at someone else who needs it. And you know how big of a difference that having a lifesaver can make in a person's life. 

Weird that feeling like a victim can help save another victim, right? That sympathy can be powerful when it's used to effect as it turns you from victim to hero, and gives you the strength to help someone else. But that's part of belonging to a group: Sometimes you join because you need the support and then you end up being the support. Just recognizing a new person to the group can be a tremendous thing to some people. 

And keep in mind that it plays both ways. There are a lot of little things that we can do that can make a difference in not only our lives, but also the lives of the others. And sometimes it's worth doing those little things just to stay sane; if you see someone who needs help, at least ask. It's important to realize that you're not doing things all by yourself. Sure, you may in your own world when you create, but that world is still linked to others; no matter how deep you go into your own world don't forget that you can surface next to someone else's if you need to.

When you join an online community, it's a two-way street: Just as you joined the community so you weren't alone, so did others; even if you are just are lurker and never interact, you still gain from being part of a community.

You need to realize that you can have the full supportive community just by asking. Realize that you are never alone and it makes a tremendous difference in your life. Help is just a few clicks away and it is better to have asked than not. If you are still hesitant, ask a moderator; they can at least direct to someone who can help. 

The bottom line is that you are not as alone as you think you are. Remember that always. 

You are not alone.