This is interesting to read as I'm pretty introverted, so I've taken the opposite approach. I avoid talking about it because I expect to be treated differently

This is interesting to read as I'm pretty introverted, so I've taken the opposite approach. I avoid talking about it because I expect to be treated differently in a negative way by work colleagues if I admit it, and I don't know many people close enough outside of a work context to speak about it. My approach, which is fairly effective at causing happiness, is to start by finding joy in solitary activities, versus seeking friends. I really like reading classic books, film, and music. I don't expect to make a close friend like I did in my youth, and I also prefer not to, because I felt like my former best friend took advantage of the fact that I wouldn't have any close connections left if he left, and treated me in a way that made my life worse for a while until I ended things. So, I figure there are worse things than being alone. If anything, I'm treat relationships with significant others as best friend relationships with intimacy. Otherwise, I have healthy working relationships work colleagues, but I don't expect to make friends like in high school, and I'm usually pretty happy trying to better myself mostly on my own. Charles Bukowski's poem comes to mind: there are worse things than being alone but it often takes decades to realize this and most often when you do it's too late and there's nothing worse than too late