There are people who love us for who we are. They welcome us with genuine smiles and warm embraces. People who share the same feelings with us, who enjoy visiting the places we frequent. These are the people who will remain in our lives forever.

And then, there are those who do not love everything about us. They do not appreciate our company and avoid the places we often go. People who do not accept us with enthusiasm, who do not reciprocate what we give. People who simply do not care for us.

Our lives are so fast-paced, filled with work commitments that consume most of our days, that the little free time we have should not be wasted. Spending it with the right people—those who value us, who love us, and who do not merely tolerate us—is the only way to give it meaning and purpose.

We cannot please everyone. And accepting this can be difficult. But when there is no reciprocity, relationships become exhausting and frustrating. It is useless to try and change them. We must have the strength to let them go, to preserve our dignity and self-respect. It is essential to move beyond what does not work, what diminishes our value. Practicing self-love is necessary.

When we are aware of our worth and what we deserve, it becomes much easier not to worry about pleasing everyone. We must love ourselves enough not to accept being invisible in someone else’s life, not to force ourselves into places where we are not truly wanted.

Friendship cannot and should not be imposed. The same goes for attention and love. It is pointless to hope for the affection of those who barely acknowledge our existence. Eliminating everything that makes us “invisible” allows us to be more authentic, more open to recognizing sincere and mutual emotions.

There will be those who love us wholeheartedly. And there will be those who do not. There will be people who welcome us with love and enthusiasm. And others who will barely tolerate our presence.

As long as we preserve our dignity and self-respect, we will have the right people by our side—the only ones who will truly enrich our lives and make them better. The ones who will stay forever.