It's so validating to talk to anyone who ever had to consistently spend hours to tire out a young dog.
Would it better to be less financially in a less mentally taxing environment?
Did you know you could medically induce menopause?
I'm tired.
I wonder if my best is just being someone who goes to the gym regularly and doesn't get dysregulated everyday at work.
I often think about the dreams I would chase if I didn't need money for antidepressants. Which are cheap. The appointments to get the prescription are less cheap.
Sometimes, I feel like persisting is a weird way to waste resources.
To find your people, you must know your values so you know when your values align. Your non-negotiables. What character traits to look for.
Community. The kind that can show up in person during hard times for basic needs. Meal trains for the grieving, the ones who are recovering from surgery, the ones leaving abusive relationships, etc. Online support is nice but not as valuable as in person visits and dropoffs.
Authenticity. Almost to a fault. Not to be generally cold and ruthless, but certainly not acting opposite of how you feel. If someone asks for an opinion, the ability to be honest without being cruel.
Compassion / Empathy / Wisdom. Being understanding of someone's situation without excusing bad behavior. Feeling any need to help out. Noticing the vibe/ shifts in mood and energy. When it's important to say something, being able to do so tactfully depending on the audience.
Curiosity / Communication. Defaulting to wanting to understand. Both people's thoughts/motivations, as well as the mechanics/processes in nature, technology, man-made systems, etc. Asking questions, asking for clarification. Not to judge. Just to understand.
Playfulness. Because quite frankly, I don't think I can bear the weight of consciousness without it. Singing, dancing, joking, prancing. Not taking yourself too seriously. Not needing to be the best and not criticizing other people when they're just trying to have fun.
Critical Thinking. We don't have to agree or like the same things. We just have to be capable of mental exercises logical thinking to at least agree on what is or is not objective truth. I guess ties in with curiosity and communication.