@Longpatrol I honestly don't cry much either. I think the last time was 2 years ago when my son's girlfriend wrecked her car and i empathetically put myself in her place at the time of impact.

I will do anything other cry. Lol

@ScreamingFox It's funny, over the years, I have really stopped worrying about what people think of me. Either they are going to like me, or they aren't and honestly, that's fine. I am not Rose Nyland. I'm not going to be everyone's friend.

I also have to thank Lexapro for allowing me to live my authentic self. (I know this isn't an option for you. I'm sure your situation is frustrating 😪) I don't feel lonely. I don't feel the need to change to be liked and I don't feel like my life is devoid of friends. I created a social group irl that had given me so much joy and I am considering creating another for another thing I enjoy.

I think once you stop worrying about other people, it becomes easier to become empathetic and compassionate. I'm no longer competing with them because I have my own life to manage and I have spare time and energy to be there for those who want me around.

Selfish people are gonna selfish. That's what my boundaries are for. I'm not required to like or be friends with everyone either and I do cultivate who I have in my circles. It allows me to feel secure that I have things in place to avoid those things that I don't like and to keep people from imposing on me.

@FoxyQueen I truly understand and I'm with you. I still worry for the children and the future of the planet though. I can't shut down the selfless part of me that cares what happens when I'm no longer around. I've experienced too much loss and betrayal to only worry about myself and my circle.

More than anything I care about the earth and the innocent creatures. I accept it is naive.

@CrazyMusicLover It is hard, particularly when it is generational. I had to remove myself from my family and work on myself to start to break those patterns. I also listened to my kids and learned what they needed and wanted from me, as best as I could, to not pass those things that hurt me onto them.

Emotional education requires that we acknowledge the negative parts of ourselves and know that we can be better, then work towards it, regardless of how hard it may be. Many in my age bracket and older, don't seem to want to take those steps and to me, that is sad. Life isn't meant to make you hard, unfeeling and unchanging. Life is meant to make you softer, kinder, gentler and maleable when presented with new information.