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« There is something so intimate about sharing things out loud you could never say to another person. Letting someone really see you–minus the filters. »
I’ve always loved talking and finding out new things. Once I click with a certain person, the conversation will go on and on. I love to explore things and dig deep. But I’m also an introvert who is reserved by nature. This trait of mine kind of hinders me from meeting new people. I feel awkward to approach a new person and strike up a conversation. I have several internet friends, but the thing with instant messengers is that you are sort of pressured to reply as soon as possible, and they tend to lack depth. I long for a deep, meaningful conversation and a conversation that flows freely.
Unlike most stories that are dedicated to one person, I’d like to write this story for all of my friends on Slowly. I hope the Slowly team knows much impact they have done for me and many other users, that it is more than just an old-fashioned messaging app.
Just like everyone else, the pandemic has hit me hard, real hard. It immensely affected me financially, physically, and mentally. I tried to pick my battle, but somehow the battles managed to pick me. I was on the verge of losing my faith in humanity. I was about to lose myself too. But somehow, something deep inside me whispered, « just one more day », and those letters that I received on Slowly gave me something to look forward to, something I anticipated. Writing and reading those letters restore my equilibrium. It’s therapeutic. Sometimes, I purposely read those letters before I go sleep instead of reading them right away because receiving and reading those letters feel like a reward after a long day, something like « save the best for the last ».
Slowly helps me to connect with people all over the world. But it’s not just that; it helps me to connect deeply and bond with these people. I’ve felt disconnected for a while, and again, instant messengers don’t help much. I was stuck in a rut (I still am) and Slowly is exactly what I’ve always yearned for. A place to write, to connect deeply with people, to discover and explore new things. What I also love from Slowly is that we simply focus on « writing ». No feeds when everyone is posting their achievement or their flashy cars. It’s not a competition. And it’s not a typical hookup app. I feel comfortable writing on Slowly, knowing that people are not talking with me because there are some agendas but our similar interests.
Here I found people who are willing to listen to my story, and I’m also grateful that I get to hear their stories, things that we don’t say loudly to our friends or family. And most importantly, these people also help me find myself. I questioned myself a lot after being asked. I finally get to reflect more and more.
I also found someone who I really enjoy talking to, and his words always soothe my soul. This is one of my favourite quotes from him.
« Herein lies the beauty of human connections, that we support one another in our struggles to be our best selves. »
Thank you to Slowly Team and my Slowly friends for making me experience such a beautiful thing.
