Mischa Fox

Who are your favorite people to be around?

I tend to gravitate towards optimistic, compassionate, empathetic people with strong leadership traits. People who actively work towards leaving a lasting positive impact on the world, who genuinely want to help and connect with others, see the world as a global community, and stand up against injustice and hatred wherever they are.

Creative folks tend to become strong acquaintances or friends. This doesn’t necessarily pertain only to traditional arts—it also pertains to things like cooking, crafting, and other areas that require creativity but get overlooked.

That said, I’m quieter now, and am more likely to connect with another writer or photographer than a musician or performance artist these days.

I also tend to gravitate to other neurodivergents. We get each other’s quirks and routines, and get to gush about special interests. However, we also tend to lose touch for periods as special interests rotate.

Because I have several forms of neurodivergence, I struggle with the steps of making friends, so it always surprises me when someone says I’m popular—especially since I spend most of my time solo.

For example, I have no idea when I’m supposed to invite someone to do something together, assume I’m interrupting someone’s routine or bothering them, and definitely have little downtime where I’m not in physical/mental recovery to interact. I also struggle with conversations involving more than about 3 other people at once.

I am a true ambivert because of my neurodivergence—I am naturally extroverted, but due to the exhaustion factor from autism, ADHD, and Ehlers Danlos, I also genuinely need a lot more reboot and rest time alone than a typical person.

(For example, I often need 9 hours of sleep, plus 2 hours in an afternoon nap if I’ve done a lot of mental work or socializing.)

I don’t answer the phone unless it’s scheduled ahead of time—and I often text to be sure it’s still a good time for the other person.

On social media, I get inundated with spam and publishing related scams, so I typically don’t answer messages from people I don’t know—but I’m VERY active in comment sections. It’s the best way to reach me until I get to know you.

Something that genuinely surprises people who meet me online (especially in the form of writing or visual art) first is that despite the fact that I create the Strange and Unusual, my personality is akin to a red panda or ferret.

Silly, playful, mischievous, hilarious, goofy, upbeat, fun—play play play—sleep coma!

I have a steel core, caustic sarcasm in dark times, and a serious Mama Bear reaction when someone else is wronged—but my natural behavior is essentially a ferret in a human costume.

(But I won’t steal your keys. Or bite your socks.)

IMPORTANT NOTE:

People with toxic behaviors don’t last long. I no longer have patience for it and have been backstabbed too many times. I advise them to get therapy and come back when they’ve made progressed.

If they’ve already caused harm to me or someone close to me, they aren’t welcome back.

I used to give a thousand chances. Now people get one.

If someone shows intolerance (racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, classism, misogyny, or religious superiority), they get the door.

If they do it on my social media, they get a pinned post for a few days to warn others.

There’s no place left for this crap in the modern world.

We really do mirror the 5 people we spend the most time with, and mold spreads over fruit quickly—so choose wisely.