I really admire your candor, mustang. Thank you. I'm going to add my own story too.
I've spent years keeping my interests absolutely to myself with the exception of a few relationships. I've never recorded it in my diary. I've spent time exploring on the Internet, including this forum, never even coming close to the consideration that I would ever post anything here.
From the very beginning, though, I've always been out to understand what ticklng fetishes, foot fetishes (and really, all fetishes) are all about; why so many people have them, while others don't. It's really fascinating to know, for example, that after some sequence of experiences, a person will become deeply excited by seeing somebody else tickled, or by being tickled.
Through high school and university, I was private about this. I was briefly poked once by a girl in high school and was absolutely thrilled by it. In college, I had serious crushes on several very intelligent, very talented women, and occasionally got to see the soles of their feet. The images are still vivid. I'm actually glad that I was so private about it at the time, though, because it really made those few experiences exquisite. I was also able to greatly appreciate stories written about characters that were shy. If I wasn't so shy myself, then I wouldn't have understood the appeal.
For most shy tickle-fetishists, their imaginary ideal partner is probably a person who understands their fetish completely. This person is very much at ease-- they smile, talk you up, tease you, and seem to genuinely love whatever you do with them. This is all because they're totally comfortable with their fetish. Is there anything wrong with that partner?
If you answered "no," then how can you possibly think that there's something wrong with you?
Over the last year, I've come to feel comfortable discussing and exploring this openly, when and where it's appropriate. Doing that has made it easy to put it all aside if I choose. I finally feel as though I have the ability-- if I wanted-- to snap and make it all disappear.
Yet... I find I'd easily much rather stay here and enjoy it. I want to write stories, make artwork, make friends, and love all this which was once so fascinating for me that I was helpless to it. Maybe I'll come to understand it even better.
All of this is nothing but deeply enjoyable, and builds confidence. So, enjoy it! Get comfortable! It's okay!
Then, maybe someday, you will be the confident, easy-going ideal partner for a shy girl or boy... and make them feel at ease, too. I can't imagine a greater gift.
So, please... honestly, try to tell me there's something wrong with you.