u/smthnsmthn_0

I feel a little crazy even writing this, but I'm hoping someone else has experienced something similar.

There's this guy I haven't seen in about 6 years. We never really interacted much, and back then I didn't think much of him at all.

Then, around 3 years ago, I started thinking about him in a romantic way for reasons I still don't understand. At first it was just an occasional thought, but over the past 2 months it's become much more frequent. I think about him every single day now, and I honestly don't know why.

I've even tried looking him up online and searching for his family, but I haven't found anything. It's almost like he disappeared, which somehow makes me think about it even more.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? Becoming emotionally or romantically attached to someone you barely knew and haven't seen in years?

If so, did you ever figure out why it happened? Was it loneliness, curiosity, idealization, your brain filling in the gaps, or something else?

I'm genuinely trying to understand what's going on because I feel a bit delusional, and I don't know why my mind has latched onto someone I barely knew.

I recently watched a video that talked about people having different "frequencies" or "vibrations." The idea was that when someone who is positive and "high vibration" spends time around people who are negative, they can end up feeling drained because the energy sort of balances out.

Whether or not you believe that's literally true, it got me thinking.

How do you stay positive and protect your peace when you're surrounded by negative people or people who constantly drain you?

For example, I'm perfectly happy doing things on my own, like going out to eat or shopping. But people often ask me, "Why are you doing that alone?" It doesn't bother me because I enjoy my own company, but after hearing it enough, it starts to get frustrating. Is it really that unusual to enjoy doing things by yourself?

I'm curious how others deal with this. Do you think it's important to distance yourself from negative people? How do you stay mentally and emotionally grounded without letting other people's attitudes affect you?

Personally, I've never really heard many Christians around me, whether at church or in my community, talk much about the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience/forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control).

I don't really have many people to talk about this with, so I'm curious to hear from those of you who are intentionally trying to grow these qualities in your daily life.

How are you doing it? What has helped you the most? Have you noticed any changes in yourself, your relationships, or your walk with God since you started focusing on them?

I have a question about the Ethiopian Bible and how it compares to the Bibles most Christians use today, like the NIV, KJV, ESV, and others.

I understand that the Bible has been translated into many different languages over thousands of years, and that there are differences between translations. I’ve also heard people say that the Ethiopian Bible is older, more original, or closer to the “true” Bible.

Is there truth to that? Is the Ethiopian Bible more accurate or unchanged compared to the Bibles we use today? Or is it more complicated than that?

If we wanted to read a Bible that is as close as possible to the original manuscripts, what translation or version would be considered the most reliable?

I've been thinking about how much of our lives are shaped by the expectations we grow up with.

From a young age, many of us are taught what a "successful" life is supposed to look like:

Go to school. Get a good job. Get married. Have children. Buy a house. Follow the usual path.

But how often do we actually stop and ask ourselves: "Is this the life I truly want?"

Sometimes I wonder if people chase certain goals because they genuinely desire them, or because they've been taught that these things are what they're supposed to want. Maybe some people feel like they're falling behind because they don't have a relationship, a family, a certain career, or a certain lifestyle, when in reality they never took the time to figure out what would actually make them happy.

I'm not saying those things are bad. Marriage, children, careers, and stability can be beautiful things. But should we choose them because they align with who we are, or because society tells us they're the definition of success?

What if we encouraged people from a young age to first discover themselves, their values, their passions, and the kind of life they want to build?

Do you think most people are living lives they truly chose, or are many people just following a path that was already laid out for them?

I've seen a lot of different opinions on this, and I'm curious what people think.

Some people say children don't owe their parents anything because parents choose to have children. Since children didn't ask to be born, raising and providing for them is simply part of the responsibility of becoming a parent.

Others believe children should repay their parents for everything they've sacrificed and done for them.

What do you think? Do children actually owe their parents anything? If so, what exactly do they owe? Is it financial support, respect, gratitude, care in old age, or something else? Or do you think parents shouldn't expect anything in return?

I'm 18, and I've realized I have a habit of avoiding conflict or difficult situations instead of dealing with them straight away.

For example, if my mum or someone else is upset with me, I usually don't respond immediately. I stay quiet, give it time, and come back to it later because I don't want an argument or to make things worse. Sometimes that helps, but other times I think I'm just avoiding the problem because it makes me uncomfortable.

I've started wondering if this habit is affecting other areas of my life too. When something is stressful or important, I sometimes delay dealing with it instead of facing it head on.

I know I'm still growing and learning, and I feel like being able to handle pressure and difficult conversations is an important life skill.

For people who used to avoid conflict or pressure, how did you learn to face things directly without getting overwhelmed? Are there any habits, books, or mindsets that helped you become more confident in handling problems as they came up?

I've been wondering why Christianity has so many different denominations and why some disagree with each other.

For example, Seventh-day Adventists observe Saturday as the Sabbath and avoid certain foods like pork. Jehovah's Witnesses have beliefs and practices that are different from many other Christians, and some people even avoid them when they come knocking on doors.

No offense to any denomination, but I'm genuinely curious: if we all follow Jesus and read the same Bible, why do we end up with such different teachings?

I think personal Bible study is important so people can build their own understanding instead of blindly following others, while also having a community to discuss and learn from.

But with so much diversity and disagreement, how do Christians make sense of it all?

I want to become a better communicator, not just have a bigger vocabulary.

I want to speak more clearly, organize my thoughts better, and be able to express exactly what's in my head without stumbling over my words. I want my thinking and speaking to feel synchronized instead of feeling like my brain is moving faster than my mouth.

For those of you who became more articulate, what genuinely helped? Books, podcasts, debates, journaling, reading, public speaking, or something else?

I'm looking for practical things that made a noticeable difference.

I love my mum, but I don't like the way I act toward her.

I don't like hearing her voice because, for some reason, it annoys me. When she calls, I get annoyed to the point where I sometimes don't even answer. Whenever we talk, I just reply with "okay," "alright," "yes," or "no" in a really dead, flat tone. I don't like that I do this, but being all cheerful, sweet, and expressive with her feels weird and unnatural.

We were never the type to hug, say "I love you," or have meaningful emotional conversations. Sometimes it feels like it's too late for us to have the kind of close mother-daughter relationship I see other people have.

I'm honestly okay if we never become super close like that. I just want to stop sounding so cold whenever I talk to her because I know she doesn't deserve that.

Has anyone else experienced this? How did you change the way you spoke to your parent without it feeling fake or forced?

(Sorry if this ends up in the wrong subreddit. I just clicked on what was recommended)

I'm curious. What are some careers that most people don't think about but actually make really good money?

I'm not talking about the obvious ones like doctors, lawyers, or software engineers. I mean jobs that fly under the radar but have solid pay, good demand, or great long-term earning potential.

What are some examples, and what do they typically earn?