u/Small_Olyviah

I've been noticing a pattern lately in my conversations. Especially with people I care about or when I'm feeling a bit insecure. I find myself giving long detailed explanations for my decisions or feelings even when the other person has just asked a simple question or hasn't even asked for an explanation at all.

It's like my brain goes into overdrive trying to anticipate their judgment or misunderstanding. I'll lay out all the background info all the reasons why all the mitigating factors. And then halfway through I realize they're just politely nodding or looking a little lost. They weren't interrogating me they were just making conversation.

I think it comes from a place of wanting to be fully understood and accepted. Maybe from past experiences where I felt misunderstood or had to fight to be heard. But it ends up feeling like I'm putting too much on them or even making things awkward.

Does anyone else struggle with this? How do you catch yourself before you launch into a mini-essay about why you chose that particular coffee brand or why you're a few minutes late. Any tips for just letting a simple answer be enough

My girlfriend 28F and I 29M have been together for three years. Things are generally good. We live together and are planning on getting engaged next year. The one recurring issue we have is her attitude towards my hobbies.

I'm really into tabletop role-playing games like D&D. I also paint miniatures for the games. It's a creative outlet for me and a great way to unwind after work. I spend a few hours a week playing with friends and maybe an hour or two painting. I've built up a decent collection of miniatures and supplies over the years. It's not a cheap hobby but it's not breaking the bank either. I budget for it and it comes out of my disposable income.

She constantly makes comments about it. She'll ask why I'm wasting money on 'plastic toys' or 'silly games'. She says it's childish and that I should be focusing on more 'adult' things. Last night I was painting a new miniature and she walked in and asked if I ever thought about how much money I've poured into 'that nonsense'. She then went on to say that money could be going towards our future like a bigger house or a better car.

I tried to explain that it's important for me to have hobbies and that it brings me joy. I also pointed out that she spends a fair amount on clothes and beauty products which I never comment on. She just said that's different because those are 'necessary' expenses for a woman.

I feel really deflated after these conversations. It makes me feel like I have to hide a part of myself from her. I don't want to give up my hobbies but I also don't want this constant tension. Am I being unreasonable to expect her to be more supportive of something that makes me happy and isn't harming anyone?

Hey everyone. I just had the funniest interaction with my 4 year old NK today and had to share. He is OBSESSED with dinosaurs. Like seriously obsessed. He has every toy imaginable he watches all the shows and his room is basically a Jurassic Park exhibit.

Today we were at the natural history museum. I was trying to explain something about a Triceratops and he just totally corrected me. Not in a rude way he was just very matter of fact. He told me the scientific name the period it lived in and even what it probably ate. I just stood there with my mouth open.

He then proceeded to give me a full rundown of pretty much every dinosaur in the exhibit. He knows more about paleontology than I do after getting my bachelors degree. It was humbling to say the least.

I love how kids just soak up information like sponges especially when they are passionate about something. Just goes to show you never stop learning even from a preschooler. Anyone else have a little expert on their hands

I've been in my field for about 8 years now. When I started it felt like there were clear lines. I did X. Someone else did Y. Our roles were pretty distinct. Over the last few years it feels like those lines are blurring really fast. I'm doing a little bit of everything now. My title is still the same but the actual day to day work has expanded so much.

It's not necessarily bad. I'm learning new things. But sometimes it feels like I'm not really an expert in anything anymore. Just kind of a generalist doing bits and pieces of a lot of different jobs. My company is pretty lean so maybe that's why. We just take on whatever needs doing.

Does anyone else feel this way? Is this just how careers are evolving now? Or am I in a weird company structure? How do you keep feeling valuable when your skillset feels so broad but not deep?