@Bloomy it sounds like you expect rejection because you were rejected - so you know it's possible because it's happened before, and it's so painful you don't want it to happen again so you watch out, ready to catch it before it catches you.
The problem is though that if you see something that looks a bit like rejection, you pull back so as not to get hurt. I wonder what would have happened if you had joined the others on the hike they had planned instead of the one you planned? I know when folk tend to withdraw it can be hard to know how to connect so I can understand people deciding to go on the other hike just because the knew the other person better.
The church event sounds lovely but you make it sound second best - it might not be what you hoped to do but you might find people to connect with.
Loneliness is a horrible horrible feeling and I get that it's something you want to change but change means doing things differently, which can be very scary. I wish you courage to keep making connections and hope you find support here.
The problem is though that if you see something that looks a bit like rejection, you pull back so as not to get hurt. I wonder what would have happened if you had joined the others on the hike they had planned instead of the one you planned? I know when folk tend to withdraw it can be hard to know how to connect so I can understand people deciding to go on the other hike just because the knew the other person better.
The church event sounds lovely but you make it sound second best - it might not be what you hoped to do but you might find people to connect with.
Loneliness is a horrible horrible feeling and I get that it's something you want to change but change means doing things differently, which can be very scary. I wish you courage to keep making connections and hope you find support here.