Used to. Constantly wanting their approval, ways to impress them, make them like me. Constantly trying, making an effort to connect, join.
Then realized was focusing on my needs. Often, people so wrapped up in their own drama, realized I wasn’t the center of the universe. So I stopped trying.
Once I did that, weird thing happened. People started to come to me, wanting to chat, hang out.
Of course, this was in a psych ward, and I’m 43, no friends, living in a crappy studio apt, and only people I talk to are myself and random strangers on the internet. So what do I know.