I asked my friend, Andy, what changed everything?
This was his reply...

"One day, I just stopped showing up where I didn’t feel seen.
I stopped calling people who never called back, and stopped explaining myself to those who were already committed to misunderstanding me.

It wasn’t easy, loneliness creeps in like an old habit.
But slowly, silence became softer.
Solitude became a friend, not a punishment.

I learned that peace isn’t found in the noise,
in the validation, or the crowded rooms.
It’s found in the quiet moments where you realize
you don’t need to be understood by everyone.

That’s what healed me.
Not more people. No more distractions.
Just less of what was breaking me."