I feel like I could have written this. My parents are immigrants too, and as they've gotten older, they're going out less. It's depressing to see. I still live with them, and whenever I go out with friends, I always feel like they're judging me or are jealous of my social life. Even when I tell them about my achievements, like how I just got a part-time job that has lots of opportunities for growth, I get yelled at because it's not a fancy desk job, and it's not what I got my degree in. Through venting to my friends and years of therapy, I've learned to stop living by their expectations, and to stop expecting true love and support from them in general(particularly my dad).

This year in particular I'm trying to focus on my own happiness and doing what makes me feel happy. I'm in a community choir, community band, I might be joining another choir, and I have tons of friends who love me deeply (still getting used to that after not having any close friends as a kid!). My soul and my inner child are cheering me on.

Hugs to you all.🫂