Comment by stuxnet79

This is quite bleak but relatable. I used to strive to be a 'connector' type and the only thing that kept me going was my optimism and trying to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. That broke around COVID. The sad truth is there's a lot of shitty people :( A better long term strategy is to try to identify and avoid these people as their attitude will chip at you and bring you down.

Much easier to sustain a positive attitude and disposition when you surround yourself by people who are also investing in the friendship / relationship or who are likely to pay it forward with others.

This is essentially what held old world cultures together before the rise of capitalism and it's individualistic attitudes.