https://youtu.be/fsLPj_BG3fg

https://youtu.be/MtSzpKiARrI

Never listen to the hum-drum of faceless gossip; misery loves company.

If they can't beat you, they'll try to lower your standards/drag you down with them.

Don't play.

https://youtu.be/AEYN5w4T_aM

Dignity is worth the trouble- as is a healthy appreciation of the self. If you find that someone is figuratively trying to get you to play a game that you don't want to play... don't play.

Always charge rent.

Don't sell yourself short.

Don't believe the hype.

"It's cool to get on the computer, but don't let the computer get on you."

Some things aren't worth dignifying.

This is a hard-won lesson, provided there is an expectation that all things can surely be fixed/made sensical; the world is rarely ever sensical; WAD.

You'll live longer, if you remember that..

It's been brought to my attention that, allegedly, I was being targeted/"groomed" by a collection of people who were really not that great, despite the fact that I was not even a proper "mark". In essence, many of the parties involved were not bueno, and simply wanted a dancing monkey.

Or a corpse.

It's a heady topic, and mostly not worth getting into (mostly because I refuse to drag it here in its entirety).

There are some who will claim that they helped, as a form of projection/defense mechanism/obfuscation. Frankly, they didn't. But if you need to announce it for acclaim, or claim that it was your intent, or to make yourself feel better... the odds are that no such thing occurred. IYKYK, and I'm certain I know the 3 or so people who really did help.

In any case, it felt appropriate for me to mention this after having ample time to consider it. I'm glad I could fully disconnect myself from all of that.

Prince was right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy7i9ru7HB8

"It's cool to get on the computer, but don't let the computer get on you."

"It's not my problem."

"... it wasn't easy. But, nothing is. No."

"... the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."