It’s okay to take up space.

I have felt similar ways at times earlier in my career, finding gossip and ‘social grooming’ taxing.

The only way I found that I could move past it was to stop resenting the effort they were demanding. It was just acceptance of the reality of getting by in a world full of people with different needs.

I just want to learn, too. I found a way to expand my universe of learning interests to include figuring out what makes different people happy at work and in life.

It’s just practical to accept social reality. Other people have resources you need and they can block your progress in this world. Or they can support it.

It turns out that I like people and learning to understand them. Hell yes they are a lot of work. I have learned a lot about myself in the process and the world seems much less alien and frightening than it did when I was withdrawing.