I have been writing in a journal on an almost-daily basis since I was 17 years old. This is a record of me going through each entry from the beginning, and commenting on the me from fifteen years ago.

New people don’t scare me any longer, not like they once did. Sometimes, I wish that my life could be on big first impression after another. I do so well at it. Ah well, I guess I’ll just have to work on the time past my first now. Now that I’ve perfected the beginning, it’s time to improve elsewhere.

I’ve since come to learn that my fear of people comes and goes. Generally, I would categorize myself as a shy person with great coping mechanisms. Sometimes, though, I go through periods where I’m outgoing. I don’t know why, it’s just the way it is. I’m still at my most excited when meeting someone new. I think my nervousness gets translated into gregariousness during these times.