I think we are quite similar. I haven’t really ever had friends, especially of a similar age. I just find it now a newly frustrating thing because I am now surrounded by many other people of my own age who do have friends, many friends even. I really greatly wish to have friends but I wouldn’t have said this when I was younger. I do agree that it is okay to not have friends but, regardless, I would kill for even one. It bothers me constantly. My parents are a little bit mean honestly but I cannot pretend that this is not just the norm, strictness is the norm, harshness is the norm etc. I think it is just because my stammering is an obvious thing that they hate. It is also a social death sentence so I think they just really want for me to be rid of it. It makes them look bad as much as it makes me look bad. I feel a bit rubbish because I cannot seem to fix it so it is not possible for me to make them happy. It wouldn’t be acceptable for me to stand up to them and I barely interact with them so it is not a big point of conflict anymore, it just simmers below the surface. I can’t win or escape so I just bide my time so to speak. I agree with you when you say that there are certainly people who would be of the mind to listen to me regardless because of their worldviews but I don’t know where they are. Sadly (or not sadly), I am probably from a background where these types or not common and keep their mouths shut, everybody is pretty conformist and closed off. This is part of the reason I really wanted to take this new point in my life to find people who are different to those I have met so far and make friends but then I am actually too cowardly to act, I just watch them. I sound a bit foolish when I say this but I really struggle to know how to approach people, I get really caught up and don’t know how to behave casually or with openness and friendliness. I worry I will just get worse the longer I am like this. I really appreciate your kind words and, likewise, I wish you the best with your own troubles in life.