Panasonic RP-HTX7

       I believe that my introversion stems from my extreme shyness as a child. I was (and still am) quite the mama's boy, and would always hide be hind her and cover my face in her dress to hide from new people when I was a toddler. In a small way, this tactic remains, and that is the hiding. The if-I-can't-see-you-you can't-see-me defense. Only now-a-days, it's "if I can't hear you". You see, I use my headphones as a metaphorical security blanket. They hide me from the things that scare me (talking to new people, or about things that bother me). I noticed it in my Junior year. Instead of facing the emotional struggles I was having, I hid from them. I had had the same pair of Panasonic headphones for 3 years, and I knew I listened to them a lot, but it took a while for me to realize it wasn't just because I love music, it was because if I couldn't hear people, it was an excuse for me to not interact with them. This included people I didn't know because I, for some twisted reason, am afraid to meet strangers or make new friends, people I didn't know well enough to know whether it would be socially acceptable to greet them or if I would get a weird look...and most importantly, when I was sad, or bothered, or angry, I could close my eyes, put on my headphones, press play, and pretend that neither the problems I had nor the people who legitimately wanted to help me with them were there so I could both avoid taking responsibility for myself, and avoid bringing my friends into my mind--two of my very favorite things to do. And let me tell ya, it's sure hard to think of anything when you have music coursing through your veins. That's why this worked for me in the first place. When you listen to music, you stop thinking about your problems. Even if you're listening to a song way sadder than your problems, they're still not YOUR problems. It's an escape, and I'm nothing if not an escapist. When those were falling apart, and smelled like vinegar, which is a very long story, and only one ear worked, and I was about to take a 6 hour flight to Hawaii, I knew I needed a new pair to make the plane ride bearable. Nobody understood why I damn near had a panic attack when I couldn't find those exact same headphones anywhere. They thought I was being totally unreasonable, and because I never explained that it was more than just a pair of headphones, I completely understand their point of view. But the first night there, I felt terribly home-sick, and the only reason I slept that night was because I put my Panasonic RP-HTX7 headphones around my neck. They made me feel like I was right in my own room.