We built the internet to bring people closer, but somewhere along the way, social media stopped being social.

A reflection on growing up believing I was never enough, and slowly unlearning the habit of seeing myself through everyone else’s eyes.

An exploration of why perfection is unattainable and why true progress comes from comparing yourself to who you were yesterday.

Everyone seems to have something that naturally sparks conversation. Whether it is movies, food, travel, sports, or television shows, these shared interests often become the foundation of friendships and professional relationships. I have come to realize that networking is rarely about forcing conversations. More often, it happens when two people discover something they genuinely enjoy talking about.

The cost of comparison is often underestimated. We see glimpses of other peoples lives through social media and assume that their entire existence is as exciting and fulfilling as those highlights. However, we rarely see the full picture, including the struggles, insecurities, and mundane moments that everyone experiences. The truth is that most people are just trying to navigate life in their own way, and comparing ourselves to others only leads to unnecessary dissatisfaction.

Somewhere along the way, I forgot why I loved programming in the first place, and it took a few projects to remind me that the best part was always figuring things out.

As I grow older, I feel something loosening its grip within me - the quiet, persistent need to be liked by everyone. It no longer weighs on me the way it once did. I am no longer buried beneath borrowed habits and second-hand preferences, carefully assembled to fit into circles that were never truly mine.