The truths I’ve come to understand after reading: Never hang out with a crowd, and never talk, chat, or clink glasses with people who have no benefit for you.

The more I read, the clearer a relationship becomes: useless conformity will only gradually drain you, and meaningless excitement will quietly consume you. When we are young, we all fear being left behind.

Fear of not fitting in, fear of being isolated, fear of being called aloof or eccentric.

So we force ourselves into various circles, put on a brave smile at the dinner table, and pour our hearts out in casual chats, thinking that knowing more people means more opportunities; joining in the fun means more security.

But only through experience do we realize that those forced gatherings leave us exhausted after they end;

The sincerity we give to people who don’t matter often ends in disappointment and coldness.

When you share your secrets with others, they quickly become topics of gossip;

When you genuinely help someone, it’s often met with an expectation of “it’s only natural”;

The relationships you carefully maintain become fragile the moment interests are involved.

Gradually, you realize: low-quality socializing is really not as good as high-quality solitude.

Rather than forcing a smile among a crowd, it’s better to read, daydream, and heal yourself quietly alone;

Rather than entangling in conflicts with people whose values clash, it’s better to guard your small world—no explanations, no forcing;

Rather than wasting time on superficial socializing, it’s better to earn well, live well, and love yourself properly.

These truths have long been clearly written in books.

Reading *No Longer Human* makes me understand that trying to please everyone only pushes you into a corner with no way out.

Reading *The Moon and Sixpence* makes me see that the most important thing in life is to stay true to your own heart.

Reading *Walden* makes me believe that only in quiet solitude can one truly hear their inner voice.

Those relationships that require you to go to great lengths to please others don’t belong to you; those circles filled with negativity, comparisons, and conflicts should be avoided.

Remember: true connections aren’t about how many people you know, but how many people still stand by you when you’re down.

Real stability isn’t about noisy crowds, but about having confidence and peace within.

There’s no need to constantly compromise yourself to please others; no need to hide your edges just to fit in; no need to drain your most precious emotions over superficial relationships.

When you start to refuse ineffective socializing and stay away from people and things that drain you,

you’ll suddenly notice: the sky is bluer, the air smells better, your emotions stabilize, and life becomes smoother.

No need to try so hard to please, no need to be overly cautious, no need to pretend to be sensible.

Focus on your work when you have tasks, and find peace in quiet when you don’t.

Keep your kindness and sincerity reserved for those who truly deserve it.

May the rest of your life, and mine, be free from noise, maintain tranquility, without clinging, settling, or internal conflict.

Live in the fragrance of books and solitude, becoming the version of yourself that you love and feel most comfortable with.