The following is from a psych evaluation from September of 2002.  It was a requirement for my bariatric surgery.

“Patient reports limited physical activity as a result of his obesity.  In addition he describes significant psychological issues of shyness and limited social interaction as a result of his obesity.”

It’s been 9 years since this was written about me and I find it interesting that I still struggle with being shy and being social.  I am working on being a more outgoing person though, and that’s a good thing.

A couple of weeks ago I stepped out of my little world and hooked up with a semi-local group of photographers to spend the day shooting at an decommissioned navel base.  It was super-fun and was a much needed breakthrough.  I don’t want to be this shy person who never leaves his house and does anything.  It was super-awesome hanging around other people who share a common interest, I even made a new friend while I was there and was able to talk about my history with him without any fear of being judged.

Perhaps this comes with age, but I’m at a point in my life where I don’t really care what people think of me.  I can’t control what goes on in their brains, they’re either going to accept me for who I am, or not at all.  I don’t really have time to worry about those who can’t see how great of a person I am inside and out.

Anyhow…  at the end of the day, when there were only a few of us die-hards left, we decided to zerg-rush one of the abandoned buildings and do some indoor photography while avoid security.  It was super-fun, illegal, and I can’t wait to do it again.