First of all, I would like to apologize. I'll admit it. I'm clingy. At least I think I am. I'm sorry if I ask too many questions. I'm sorry if I follow you around like a little lost puppy. I'm sorry if I apologize too much. (I tend to do that.)
Do you want to know why I do these things? Here's the truth: I like you. And I don't want to risk losing your friendship. You're my friend and I care about you. In fact, if we're friends, I probably care a lot more about you than you do about me. It's just who I am. I've gotten used to it.
I'll be the first to tell you that I'm the jealous type. If we're friends, I want to be the one you come to about things. I want you to feel safe around me. Maybe it's an unhealthy need to feel loved and be your favorite, but maybe it's just me being a good friend. I love being that person that you can go to when you need to vent, to get something off your chest without fear of judgment. That's why I'm clingy - I love being that person for people.
Unfortunately, I also love knowing things. Because I care about you, I want to know what's going on in your life. But pride sucks because it makes me want to know about your life before anyone else does. It makes me want to be the only person you go to with a problem. It makes me nosy and it makes me jealous. *DING DING DING WE FOUND A CHARACTER FLAW*
"But you're not clingy," you might say. "Sometimes you just disappear." This is also true. This clingy, jealous friend of yours doesn't want to blow her cover. I don't want to be known as the clingy friend. So I'll lock myself away for a while. I'll give you your space. And you'll wonder where I've been for the past three days. You could say it's a personal paradox. I don't want you to get sick of me so I leave you alone.
So, what are you supposed to do with this information? Honestly, I don't know. I guess for starters, if you're the clingy friend like me, take a deep breath and chill out. Let your friends make friends. If they want to open up to you they will. Don't be offended if they seem to be getting close to someone else. That's healthy. It doesn't mean they're over you. And my dear fellow clingy people, know that you are not alone. You're not crazy... Okay, maybe just a little. But so am I.
If you're the one being clung to, hopefully you understand a little bit more about why we do what we do. Maybe show us a little extra love every now and then just to affirm that we're still on the radar. Oddly enough, we clingy people usually won't initiate things because we don't want to bother you. The best thing you can do is make time for us. If you need space, tell us. And above all, trust us. It makes us feel special and appreciated.
That may have been far too much personal information. And it may have been a long internet rant, but I hope that someone out there gets something out of it. If anything, I hope I made clingy people feel more comfortable and I hope I helped those who are clung to understand their friends just a little bit better.
