I don't have any particularly new or specific goals for the new year, except for the usual to reduce spending more, rebalance my portfolio, to spring clean and declutter more, and to just be more mindful of my use of time and energy. I know, I know, not all that specific hahaha.
The only new wrinkle, I guess, is re-connecting with this female friend of mine, and to see if we can't work things out again. So far, to the surprise of no one, we are not working out. We are politically incompatible, for example, and I see that gap has only widened and become more entrenched during our time apart.
For example, why does she give certain people and politicians she doesn't even know, that she only see on TV or the internet, people that anyone can easily prove to be lying outright, get a complete free pass, but people who she personally DO know, but is telling her the smallest and most inconsequential things to her, and yet is the truth, she will grill me on it for the rest of the night?
For example, my last job working for the Feds required that I maintain certain military standards, meaning no facial hair, and either short or no head hair. I joked to her that she missed out on the years seeing me running around bald, but somehow this became a point of contention? She spent the rest of the night questioning the legitimacy of me actually working for the Feds? I'm like HUH? That was years of my life at it, but I no longer work there anymore anyway (which is what I really think is the important point here), and somehow, she accused me of lying about my hair for my job??? I'm telling her the truth about something that's not even all that important, but she refused to believe me, oh but some politician lying to the public that can be easily proven false, about things that can end up getting thousands of innocent people hurt or maybe even killed, gets a complete pass? How does that even work?
Politics isn't the core issue here though. It's just a convenient example. At the end of the day, what really concerns me is how she views and treats even her own friends, nevermind her enemies. For example, is she going to grill and accuse me of every little joke or musings, no matter how small? She's already told me that she and her friends in their circle never trust men, not even their own husbands, because men cheat and can leave them in a bind at any time, which I agreed is an understandable concern, but as the guy in this picture here, I'm also wondering.... why am I here then, if you don't trust me? I'm trying to be supportive and make you feel better, but joking about something as inconsequential as hair (or the lack of) is somehow going to be a problem? I feel like I'm walking on egg shells around her, never knowing what's going to set her off, and I typically hang up stressed after I talk to her.
However, she is still recovering from a potentially botched knee surgery, a toe dislocation (long story), and is even fighting off a cold right now, so I thought maybe she's cranky because of all that. I. am doing the best I can to, again, just be a kind and supportive friend to her while she is in recovery.
If I am being honest though, our communication at this point has broken down to just basic, passing pleasantries for the most part, and that to me is a pretty clear sign that things have already failed pretty spectacularly.
Regardless, with or without anyone else, I still have to live my own life, and I am still committed to try to make 2026 my best year yet.
January 3rd, 2026 at 02:21 am 1767406898
January 3rd, 2026 at 02:25 am 1767407151
Best wishes for 2026!
January 3rd, 2026 at 02:50 am 1767408624
January 3rd, 2026 at 05:01 am 1767416478
January 3rd, 2026 at 01:38 pm 1767447489
Hope 2026 is wonderful for you!
January 3rd, 2026 at 05:14 pm 1767460464
January 4th, 2026 at 08:50 pm 1767559853
January 9th, 2026 at 03:18 am 1767928712
Basically I sat down and asked myself "would I be happier single the rest of my life, or would I still want this person in my life?". I finally realized I am happier single, and saw no way it would improve, so I had to remove her from my life. Maybe you need to ask yourself this as well I even had to change the locks on my house - it was unpleasant.
Anyway, if you need someone to discuss this more, let me know.
January 9th, 2026 at 06:28 am 1767940092