Chosen Families and Lonely Hearts
Friendships are magical — like a chosen family we get to create for ourselves. People we vibe with, who understand us in ways even family sometimes can’t. We hang out, share secrets, explore the world together… it sounds beautiful, right? But honestly? I didn’t get to fully experience that. I learned what friendship meant in school — and somewhere along the way, I unlearned it in college. Surrounded by all kinds of people, I just couldn’t find a true friend. Everyone called me their friend — But honestly, I never felt like one. It was always, “Can you help with this?” or “Can you take care of that?” It started to feel less like friendship… and more like I was just ticking things off someone else’s list. To me, real friendship means being able to show up as your true self — and still being accepted. No judgment. No pressure. No whispers behind your back. I tried to be that kind of friend for others. I checked in. I made sure people felt safe and cared for. I tho...