Man, let me tell you, when I first started living with my buddy, who totally rocks that March 5 Pisces vibe, I was a bit lost. I mean, we’d been friends forever, but living together? That’s a whole different ballgame. It really pushed me to figure some stuff out, and honestly, I learned a ton. I wanna share what I kinda stumbled upon, hoping it helps someone else out there.
When we first moved into that apartment, I was all about routine, you know? Get up, coffee, work, gym, dinner, sleep. Pretty straightforward. But he? Nah. He’d wake up whenever, sometimes humming some tune, sometimes just staring out the window for what felt like ages. I used to think, “What is he even doing?” It drove me a little nuts at first because I just couldn’t pin him down. He’d say one thing, then completely lose track of it because some new idea, or feeling, just kinda washed over him. I remember one time, we planned to grab pizza, and I was ready, keys in hand, and he was suddenly deep into painting a weird landscape on a canvas he just found. Pizza forgotten. I learned pretty quick that trying to stick to a rigid schedule with him was like trying to catch smoke.
I started noticing a pattern, though. He felt things really, really deeply. If something was bothering him, even if he couldn’t quite put it into words, you could feel it in the air. He’d get quiet, drift off, sometimes completely lose track of what we were talking about. And if he was happy? Oh man, the energy was infectious. He’d blast music, dance around, tell wild stories. I realized then that his moods were kinda like the ocean tide – constantly shifting, powerful, and sometimes, you just had to ride the wave.
Understanding the Flow and Finding My Own Anchor
The first big thing I had to wrap my head around was his need for space, but not just physical space. It was more like mental and emotional space. I used to try and “fix” things when he was down, or push him for answers. Bad idea. He didn’t want solutions; he just needed someone to maybe listen, or sometimes, just let him be. I started practicing this thing where I’d just sit near him, doing my own thing, if he seemed a bit off. No questions, no prodding. Just being present. It worked wonders. He’d eventually open up on his own terms, or just… re-emerge.
Another thing was his creativity. He’s always got a project going, or an idea bubbling up. For a while, I thought he was just flakey, starting things and not finishing. But then I saw how much joy he got from the process of imagining and creating, even if it wasn’t perfect, even if it never saw the light of day. So, instead of nudging him to “finish that song” or “publish that story,” I started just appreciating the energy he put into it. I’d ask about his newest crazy idea, genuinely curious, and let him just explore it. It turned out, he wasn’t looking for a critic or an editor from me, just someone to share the journey with.
It sounds simple, but really, for me, it boiled down to a few key things I had to actively do every day:
- I stopped pushing for immediate answers or decisions. If I needed something from him, I learned to ask, then let it sit. I’d give him time to feel it out, to mull it over. Sometimes it took a day, sometimes more, but he’d always come back with something thoughtful.
- I learned to read the unspoken cues. He’s not always one for direct confrontation or blunt statements. A certain quietness, a dreamy faraway look, a shift in his usual playful banter – these were all signals. I tried to just observe and respond to those subtle shifts, rather than wait for him to spell it out.
- I respected his need for alone time, even if it seemed sudden. There were days he’d just disappear into his room with headphones on. I used to feel ignored or wonder if I’d done something. Now? I just nod, go about my day, and know he’ll pop out when he’s ready, usually recharged and ready to engage again.
- I tried to encourage his creative side, however it manifested. Whether it was a weird drawing on a napkin or a sudden urge to bake a complicated cake at midnight, I’d try to be his cheerleader, not his taskmaster. It made him light up, and honestly, it made our space a lot more vibrant.
- I kept communication open, but low-pressure. Instead of heavy “we need to talk” moments, I’d just casually bring things up during dinner, or while we were chilling. Light, easy, no big deal. It made him more comfortable sharing what was on his mind without feeling cornered.
Living with him has been a wild ride, for sure. There were definitely moments I felt like I was talking to a wall or completely misunderstanding what was going on. But by letting go of my expectations for how things “should” be and just learning to appreciate his unique way of being, things really shifted. It wasn’t about changing him, or even really changing myself fundamentally. It was more about adjusting my approach, softening my edges, and just flowing with his current. And you know what? Our home is a much more peaceful and creative place because of it. It’s pretty cool, actually.
