Me and my family because my friends are family, and my definition of the word family is a lot more restricted than just blood relations.
I know, one side said like and the other said approve. Sorry. No coffee as yet.
There are three people that I wouldn't want to hurt, offend, anger, whatever, and this is coming from someone who used to be a people pleaser. My sole remaining sister, my daughter and my best friend. Anybody else runs a distant 78th or so, I wanna say.
Oh, and. People on the internet don't make the chart.
But the reason I voted "me and only me" is because everything else is subjective. People do strange things. I once had my best friend stop speaking to me for fifteen years. Never even said why. When we reunited on FB, she said it was because she knew me getting married would change everything.
People come and go. It's the nature of life. I guess the end result is that I've become somewhat jaded, in my realization of no permanence. That's probably a good thing. I mean, it beats NOT getting it, and being heartbroken every time a friend, family member or loved one disappears over the horizon. Right?
my husband, my kids, my close friends. some other family members. people whose opinions i respect. wow...do i sound needy!
Wellllll .... you are in a completely different place and generation than I am. So, no; I can't say that you do. Not needy. Just a full life. Das is gud.
I think everyone enjoys being liked and excepted by others regardless of who they are.
we are of the same generation!
True. And then comes a time when one realizes the price is too high, and they don't even know who they are anymore, because they're too busy being whoever anybody and everybody wants them to be.
LIES!! You're in your 30's. Admit it!!!!
Okay, fine.
/sulk
I don't have normalcy. Just facts! Which most people know here anyway, but don't want to be viewed as seeking pity. It just sounds bad when it all adds up. Mom deceased, estranged from sister and her father. Husband out-of-picture. One sibling missing since 1987. So I'm down to the people who actually matter to me, i.e., remaining sister, daughter (well, her husband, his brother and their parents are amazing people. I just don't see them enough to even call them 'friend'), and best friend. The people I live with, yes. I could call friend. But they're not on my short list of people I love with all my heart.
i don't have "normalcy" either......but that doesn't stop my from trying! and you didn't mention "loving with all your heart" you posted about approval and what other people may think of you. for example, my husband has an uncle that i would hate to disappoint, not because i see him regularly, or love him with all my heart, but because i have always had a great respect for him and for the way he leads his life. he is one of those people who will ALWAYS do the right thing.
On a personal level, I've never cared what anyone has thought of me, including family and friends, mainly because they don't see my motivations, and my goals. And it'd be too much to constantly tell them why I do everything I do.
On a professional level, I want to go into business, and I know that it doesn't matter what I care, I have to look good to everyone all the time. So, I've consciously kind of built my lifestyle in a way that you would want to see in a businessman.