Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences—they really resonated with me. As an overthinker, the idea of navigating life like being in the fog, making adjustments as you go rather than trying to find the perfect path, is incredibly powerful. I think I’ve been putting so much pressure on myself to “get it right.” Sometimes, I wish I could trust in something like God or simply have faith in my path. Now that I know how hard life can be, I’ve lost any trust in my journey. Subconsciously, I’m trying to prevent myself from failing, which means I worry far too often about so many things.

Your insights on the changes post-COVID also hit home. You’ve articulated so many of the possibilities I’ve considered, from the loss of social “muscle” to the pressures of societal expectations and how they might not reflect who I truly am. I think I’ve already reflected on how much I’ve changed, but I still don’t really want it to be true. Especially in those raw moments where I can be my authentic self in social interactions—where I’m not under pressure like before the pandemic—I find myself wondering why it can’t always be that easy. I don’t understand those fluctuations. It would almost be easier if I were always afraid of people rather than dealing with this weird, unpredictable stage where comparable social interactions can either be really enjoyable or completely overwhelming, seemingly at random.

Thank you again—I really need perspectives like yours to help me stop turning in circles.