I am proud of myself for my steps forward in this crazy life. I have learned the power of companionship, as no one can navigate this alone. I have felt the emptiness of having nobody wonder where you are, what you are doing, how you are doing. I have felt regret in having lost friends that I have let down. I have felt the disappointment of losing connections with people who were once a vital part of how I defined myself. And I have, against all my inclinations, made myself step into social settings and chat it up with real people, making new connections, leaving the past behind me. I am in charge of what happens, and stepping outside the comfort zone is the power that turns the pages.