Menu

2026 so far

Home→Forums→Share Your Truth→2026 so far

New Reply
Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • March 22, 2026 at 7:37 pm #456207
    MissLDuchess
    Participant

    Happy belated new year to all. 2025 wasn’t the easiest year for me but I’m still trying to see the glass half full. 2026 has had quite an interesting start. In January I got blocked by the writer wife of an erstwhile celebrity crush over an innocuous Substack subscription, followed by said crush, and a bunch of these people’s relatives. I was active on a gossip thread about said actor when I was in college. I was 19 and extremely jaded and cynical over the disconnect I felt with my peers. I resigned myself to a friendless existence after getting rejected one two many times and never clicking with anyone in the dorms or first club I tried. I worried that putting myself out there would draw ever more scrutiny and gossip on such a small campus where I already felt like a pariah. I looked to online communities and social media to distract myself since I felt I needed to get a degree and get the hell out. My therapist, who I was with for 5 years, and I bonded over my obsession with said actor. This is significant since at first I couldn’t let my guard down since I was so deflated by 2 years of feeling misunderstood, alone, and mistreated during what was supposed to be the “happiest 4 years of my life”. I also dealt with some family drama due to my cousin’s wedding. I was the only cousin from our side invited since she’s particularly fond of me plus we’re closer in age (I’m 27 and she’s 29). However since she is at an impasse with her father (uncle) who will no longer be attending, no one from our side will be going. Since I’ve always struggled tremendously to make friends I was really honored to have someone like me enough to include me on their social media. This family conflict is upsetting but since I had PTO to make use of, I decided to book a trip to Scandinavia. Although I’m still single with few close friends, I’m trying to enjoy my independence while it lasts since who knows I could be engaged to the love of my life by this time next year. I’m still at chorus. Although I’m not tight with anyone from there yet I’m proud of myself for not throwing in the towel like I did in college after never clicking with anyone from the dorm, first club I tried, and being so overwhelmed with academics plus mental health I withdrew completely and become avoidant due to bad experiences. In hindsight I should’ve avoided going home on weekends although it was out of survival due to lack of sleep my first year thanks to an inconsiderate, self-centered roommate and later because I was too bored and lonely on campus and feared said roommate was turning people against me so socializing felt like a lost cause. I know that it takes 70 hours to turn an acquaintance into a friend and 200 for someone to become a close friend so I’m trying to persist and keep an open mind. I began therapy again now that I have insurance and am also working with dating coach to not rule out finding a life partner on the apps.

    March 22, 2026 at 8:00 pm #456209
    anita
    Participant

    Hey Dear Miss L Dutchess 🙂

    I am so happy to read your first 2026 thread!

    To me, it looks like you’ve been making progress this year 🙏

    👏 for trying to 👀 the glass half full 🥛 and for keeping an open mind!

    How exciting- you working with a dating coach. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a dating coach (there’s a lot I don’t know 🙂).

    I want to reply more Mon morning (it’s Sun 8 pm here).

    🥛 👏 🙏 Anita

    March 22, 2026 at 8:04 pm #456210
    MissLDuchess
    Participant

    I also moved out of my parents’ house and closer to my office. I’m hoping this makes socializing easier since in the suburbs it’s mainly people with young kids and older people.

    March 22, 2026 at 8:24 pm #456212
    anita
    Participant

    Moving out of your parent’s’ house is HUGE, Wow, Miss L Dutchess.. I’m impressed. B back 2 u in the morning.

    March 23, 2026 at 12:55 am #456222
    Roberta
    Participant

    Dear Ms L Duchess

    Congrats on getting your own home.
    Just this weekend I was out for a long walk with a fairly new acquaintance & they asked me if I was still friends with the people I went to school with some 50 years ago. The honest answer was mainly no, I do not have a deep friendship with my childhood peers, on analysis my friendship group is based on our commonality of having a deep spiritual life even though we come from different backgrounds & religions.
    I hope that you find your deep joy.
    Best wishes
    Roberta

    March 23, 2026 at 7:29 am #456228
    anita
    Participant

    Dear Miss L Dutchess:

    I appreciate you sharing all of this. Your post is so honest and reflective, and it’s clear how hard you’re working to build something better for yourself. That takes real strength.

    About the blocking situation: I know it felt personal, but the most likely explanation is actually very impersonal. (I just researched it-) Celebrities, and their families often block anyone who ever interacted with old gossip threads, even if the posts were harmless or years old. It’s usually a blanket boundary, not a judgment of you as a person. You didn’t do anything wrong by subscribing — it was just an automated or precautionary reaction on their end.

    And the family situation sounds painful too. Being invited to your cousin’s wedding clearly meant a lot, especially since feeling included feels so special. Losing that because of conflict that had nothing to do with you would hurt anyone. It makes sense that it stirred up old feelings of being left out or overlooked.

    What really stands out to me, though, is how much you’re doing to move forward — therapy, chorus, moving out, traveling, working with a dating coach, trying to build community even when it feels slow or uncertain. You’re showing up for your life in ways that a younger version of you didn’t have the support or safety to do. That’s huge.

    You deserve connection, belonging, and people who see your value. And you’re taking real steps toward that, even if the path has been uneven. I hope you give yourself credit for that.

    🌿 🌼 💛 🤍 Anita

    March 27, 2026 at 10:42 am #456362
    anita
    Participant

    How are you, Miss L Dutchess? I wonder if any of the 4 replies you received in this thread resonate with you, or maybe you’re uncomfortable with the replies?

    I am asking because I would like to improve my replies 🙂

    🤔 🍃 Anita

    March 29, 2026 at 3:28 pm #456407
    Alessa
    Participant

    Hi Miss Duchess

    Sorry I’ve been so busy. 🩵

    Oh my goodness, social media can be a bit crazy sometimes. I hope no one has been mean to you?

    Wow you’ve had a great start to the year. So much change!

    Good luck with your dating coach. I hope your therapist is treating you well? How are you settling into your new house?

    I didn’t know that about how many hours it takes to become friends. Very interesting.

    That is a shame to hear about the difficulties with that wedding you were invited to. Can you still go, even if your other family members aren’t going? You sounded so excited for it. 🩵

    Thanks so much for the update. I always love to hear how you’re doing. You’ve done a great job of sticking with the choir. I think you’re right on the money. When conditions are right, it is easier for you. I’m glad that you aren’t blaming yourself for the difficulties you experienced in college.

    I hope you have a good trip to Scandinavia. Such a promising year. I love the positive attitude. 🩵

    March 29, 2026 at 7:11 pm #456411
    MissLDuchess
    Participant

    Hello Anita. Apologies for the late response I just had a lot going on. All is well. I’m trying to not compare myself to others and take things one day at a time.

    March 29, 2026 at 7:18 pm #456412
    anita
    Participant

    Thank you, Miss L Dutchess for responding to my last post. I appreciate it. Taking things one day at a time is what I do 🙂

    🍃🤍 Anita

    March 30, 2026 at 9:24 am #456430
    anita
    Participant

    Good morning, Miss L Dutchess:

    You wrote yesterday, “I’m trying to not compare myself to others”- I have a comment on this, hoping it might be of some help:

    If comparing yourself negatively to others is a mental habit by this point (if it’s where your mind goes naturally,) it would take time and practice to lessen and then stop this habit.

    Mental habits, like many physical habits, are difficult (but possible) to break.

    So, when you find yourself negatively comparing yourself to others.. (yet again), if you notice being critical of yourself (another mental habit), shift your thinking, if you will, to:

    Comparing yourself positively to others, finding something you appreciate about yourself that many other people are lacking, and give yourself a mental hug for it.

    If you do this regularly, you might develop a new mental habit to replace the old 🙂

    🍃 🤍 Anita

    April 12, 2026 at 7:19 pm #456879
    anita
    Participant

    How is 2026 so far, Miss L Dutchess, 3 months and 12 days in?

    🤍 Anita

  • Author
    Posts
Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Please log in OR register.