I don’t even think it was that I didn’t value myself—I think it was that I didn’t understand the value of my alone time.

Pretending to be more socially engaged than I really was cost me time, energy, and money. I could have been picking up more shifts, getting better sleep, and enjoying a schedule tailored to my needs.

I didn’t understand that some people are vampires for attention. Like, they literally only want attention. Huhhh?? What does that attention give them? I have no idea and I no longer care.