Reluctance to add interests

My interest list is already really long, because it often includes the same thing under multiple phrasings. For instance, I have parenting, have kids, children, etc. It does get a little annoying to have too many interests, but I usually just add things after responding to discussions there a few times.

Thanks so much for sharing!

Hehe, I'm a mind-reader all right.=p

No, really, I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who really thinks about this! I try not to add things unless I really am very interested in them, even if I occasionally respond in that category because my friends start discussions there or whatever.

I like that measure you use. I'll really have to think on this one. I'm pretty sure on most days I answer several discussions under Wicca, especially since I've added several friends who post there. So maybe I will wind up adding it after there.

All's going well here. I'm still waiting to find out exactly what my new treatments are going to be, but the doctor upped the dosage of one of my medicines, and I've been breathing better already. I was sick last Monday, but I made it to work the rest of the week, and I'm off today because it's on the schedule, not because I'm sick. Thanks for your concern! How are you?

I am doing great dear thanks for asking and it is good to hear that your are doing better. Take good care of yourself and have a very cheerful day ahead.

*nods* I think I'm thinking too much on this one. I just have to explain to people about 10 times a day offline the difference between my religion and Wicca, so I'm getting a little paranoid about being called Wiccan. But really adding it as an interest on mylot doesn't mean anything, so I should just stop whining and do it.=p

I think it's funny that you think you have a lot, and on your profile it says 20-something. I guess you must just pretty much stick to those categories in responding, if you don't get asked very often. My profile says I have 180-something interests already, though some of those are repeats just phrased differently.

I had a really hard time adding religion too, simply because it is listed as "a hobby I enjoy".=p

I'm glad I'm not the only one who puts this much thought into these things. I'm often picked on for being overly serious!

It is interesting that you talk a lot about spirituality in general but don't have a chosen religion. I do have one, but I often reply to discussions about other religions as well as my own. In fact, most of the discussions I reply to about my own religion are just people saying "What does that mean anyway" in which case I always try to help them out.

Thanks for your reply, lordwarwizard. You're very helpful!

You have a point that it's very unlikely anyone is going to actually read my interests. Especially since I have close to 200 of them already. I must just think I'm so special someone would notice. Thanks for bringing me back to earth.

Oh goodness. 200!! High chance people will miss this 201th out of 201.:P

See, when I first joined I did think the point was to create a profile about ourselves. But as time has gone on, it's starting to look less and less like that's how it's used. I know I look at other people's interest sections, but if there are a lot of them, I'm probably not actually going to check them all.

I don't resist that pop-up window so well myself, I guess. I've often added things that were really just another way of saying the same thing. However, so far I don't think I've really added things that could misrepresent me.

I am really glad to hear that others think about these things too!

I wrote a big long explanation about this, and then deleted it. I'm being silly. You're right. Thank you.=p

Thanks! This is a lovely response!=)

I guess for me it's not so much that I like discussing Wiccan things is that many things that are posted under "Wicca" also apply to other forms of paganism. That, and many of my friends here are Wiccan, so I wind up following them there.

Thanks for being so pragmatic about the whole thing. I needed that. I tend to overthink.

I like that you don't care what peoplpe think of the interests you have. I need to be more like that! I used to have a higher confidence level and not care what people thought, but lately it seems I've been worrying far to much about what people think of me. I need to kick this habit, fast!

As for the Wicca thing, I suppose I hesitate because I've spent my whole life trying to explain to people what makes my religion different from Wicca. Which is silly, because it's not that I don't like Wiccans or don't want to be mistaken for a Wiccan, but just because I feel it's important to be accurate and honest about such matters.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your response! I've had some really awesome ones so far, and it's really changed my perspective on this issue!

I know what you mean, but what you decide to do is down to you. Some people just cannot accept people who do not fit ito what they believe.
I have a friend Bizziebod, she is great. She has her own ideas and is not attached to the Wicca religion, check her out, she is very geniune and can answer alot of your questions.
I have read many of your discussions and for what you have been through, you need to shrug of those who bring you any negative feelings and you should just go with what feels comfortable with you.
Take care!!

*nods* My religion is actually very similar to Wicca... I'm a Celtic Reconstructionist. The major difference between my religion and Wicca is that Wicca takes influences from many older religions, while mine is just from one area. I've been a member of a lot of "general pagan" groups that involved Wiccans as well as other pagans, so it's not a matter of not knowing about Wicca, just of not feeling comfortable with people thinking I'm something I'm not.

You have a good point about my needing to shed negativity after all I've been through. I'm working on that one. I think for a long time I just kind of shoved everything in a corner and didn't deal with it, and now I'm working on things because I found out that didn't really help. Thanks so much for your kindness and concern, you've given me a lot of good responses and been very helpful.

You know, I have some interests that I haven't responded to in a long time as well. Maybe I should clean up my list a little while I'm thinking about it, so that I can find the discussions I really do want to reply to better. Thanks!