First of all, LOVE the photo. It is so cool and has a papery effect.

Secondly, I can relate to the shyness on many levels. I think of myself as very shy; my friends would not think so - I am quite social and actually, I do well in meeting new people and being quite social with them. So, am I really shy? I have abandoned my labelling of shy - labelling ourselves personality traits is a hindrance to growth. For instance, I used to think I am a lazy person. I mean, don't get me wrong, I did procrstinate a lot. But, when things got better, I find myself to be quite diligent and hard-working. So are traits that permanent?

In the case of shyness, I cannot speak for you, but I would associate it more with anxiety - specifically social anxiety. I think it is similar to shyness, yet really different. I see shyness more of a calm and silent quality that would reflect a meditative and reflective state, which is void of anxiety. Phrasing it as anxiety, for me, is helpful. Why? That means when I can manage anxiety, I can be 'not shy', and therefore I break my boundaries and am able to grow.

I will be interested to learn so much more about you. The future topics seem quite heavy, and I recognise how brave you must be, not only to face these issues, but to accept them and share them with the world. I am sure a lot of us will find them both as a learning experience, and a way to relate and express ourselves. So, thank you for doing this <3