That is quite an experience you must have had, I am interested in where you came back to? I live in a small suburb of Detroit, lived here my whole life. I have a friend that went into the Marines and saw the world at 20 and when he came back not only did he have differences in him from being around War, but he would complain about “home” how people and things don’t change and how it is like coming back to a fish bowl it is trapping. The fish living in a bowl have no idea what is beyond that fish bowl, they are ignorant so it is pretty difficult for others who have seen the world and especially the struggles of others the world over and empathized with them to connect with those who live superficial lives complaining about how their internet doesn’t go fast enough or their new car. He was literally all over the world Europe and the Middle East in the midst of real people not just the places that are built up for tourism. Sometimes he would have to stay in houses with Iraqi families, and some welcomed them and some didn’t. He lived on a ship for a while chasing somalian pirates. When he first got out for good, he was depressed, anxious and felt alone and unable to connect. Now he has been out of the Marines for a few years, he went back to school for Arabic made it into Columbia, went and studied in Jordan has been to a few other places and has tons of friends all over.

While you weren’t a Marine and didn’t have to go to war, I see somewhat that you come across as a restless spirit much like my friend. You were like a fish in the ocean and now you are back in the fish bowl and it is too small for you, because you have outgrown it and learned how to take care of yourself in the ocean you can handle it. I have noticed people aren’t much different than fish they grow (psychologically) according to their “world.” Put a small fish in a big lake and that small fish will grow big. Put that same fish in a tank and it will only grow as much as there is room for it. Something is holding you back though, whether it is a plan for what you are going to do to again be free or not I hope that some of this was somewhat helpful and gave you a different view of your situation.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Mike.