Tell me we‘ve never met in rl without telling me… :D (wise! - thx for the laughs).
But the rest is spot on.

Or maybe some well meaning but cruel “toughening up” like in Johnny Cash’s A Boy Named Sue?

See? Just that liking “I fucking hate Ayn Rand” makes you 100% likeable
(Auntie Alice: over & out :D)

Reread your post and realised you didn’t say “physically attractive” but the much more general “likeable enough”. Also wrong and flimsy. You are likeable. You just crushed on the (in this case) wrong guy. My message stays the same.

*I said: spoil, not ruin. You get the idea.
BUT most importantly: stop saying you’re not lovable for some flimsy reason like not being physically attractive enough. This is NEVER true. You are middle aged, but I am old, so I KNOW.
Yes, I’m serious.

It does (hurt like hell). Wish I could speak words of wisdom or comfort you in any efficient way, but all I got is half-baked: spoil yourself with anything* that works/go on a voyage (unfailing method of 19th century)/avoid contact (brutal but necessary measure)/ start something new (hobby, habit)
⬇️

Didn’t get the title of this one as it was closing time, but more prog rock vibage

But don’t (some?) ducks have 9x9 lives? (Is that right @wildobliquities.bsky.social?)
I instantly fell for your dog - those eyes, and all of her, and she reminds me of mine who regularly transitioned from killing her hen (see below) to being an angel (see below) in under 3 seconds

I think the version ending in -chen is official and transregional German, colloquial version of course. The -le is from Spätzle territory. And both are charming.

😨Update: I dreamt the poem last night. As in: I was there, it was me. The keel part woke me up. Can’t remember this happening before. Thomas T. most obvs got very much under my skin 😨