Are these self-help tactics hurting you?

Photo by Djordje Petrovic from Pexels

One of my first memories from childhood is running around the schoolyard, ‘patching up’ relationships between other kids. Here’s the weird part — I didn’t have any friends.

At 7 or 8, I had two choices. Sit in the playground by myself and read my book, or help two factions make peace. It wasn’t quite as good as having a friend… but at least people needed me. And hey, I was pretty good at…