Not sure if that's just society, the internet or whatever, but has anyone else noticed a significant difficulty in their lives when it comes to wanting to keep friends nowadays?

I used to believe i was extroverted, now I'm on the brink of saying i might as well be antisocial and not just introverted. Because at least in my case, every time i meet someone new, i can't help but think "Good lord, you look like you've seen better days 25 years ago in your 24 years of life"

For some reason, everyone that looks normal initially, ends up being extremely depressed (which is usually okay, until it turns to a therapist/patient dynamic), constantly looking for their next terrible life decision in the form of getting back to their shitty ex or forming addictions they can't afford and so on, or blatantly insufferable to be around once they figure I'm a "good listener and make them feel a connection" even though i have no idea how i did that.

Now i get it, life's hard. Everyone's dealing with something. But seeing as how everyone seems to think I'm their therapist (and maybe that's my fault somehow), or them feeling the need to start causing some dramatic bullshit to happen at any point, or whatever else, i have opted out of making friends completely.

I've been giving it a chance for the whole year. Looked in different places and even changed environments. The results were simply that my life has gotten way more peaceful the less people got involved in it because everyone wants to throw their baggage at me and didn't like my lack of encouragement for them maximizing their own misery.

A little bit of solitude, a LOT less internet, and looking at the sunset on a nice beach or hill has brought amounts of peace into my life I've never felt before. 90% of the things i did this year, creative or otherwise, were done just so i can say "i did it" to myself, and i haven't seen a bigger boost in motivation and self improvement before. I'm not gonna fill the spot my problems, mistakes and issues had with someone else's, and that's essentially why i can't find it in me to want to be social again in a climate like today's. Peace is beautiful after you forget what it's like.

This is, of course, one random brain fart i felt like typing out. I don't want to "start discourse" or prove anyone right or wrong or subtly tell someone i hate them (because trust me, I'm not afraid to do so). And in fact, people's tendency to take things that way immediately is another waste of time i can't stomach and prefer not to.

Have a good day everyone.