i only know to exist when i am wanted
Only by being useful or talented, and receiving external recognition, would I achieve personhood. I couldn’t imagine a world where I was a worthwhile person by dint of mere existence; I felt like I needed to earn it and prove it every day.
John Moe • The Hilarious World of Depression
Exhaustion is a status symbol because we desperately want to be seen, we desperately want to belong. We want to believe we’re lovable. In the absence of connection, there is always suffering, so we want to feel connected.
Maria Popova • Aloneness, Belonging, and the Paradox of Vulnerability, in Love and Creative Work
who are you when you’re not pleasing anyone?
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