Taking care of myself by myself for many years (not too much influence from family and friends), I learned to know my own boundaries. I lost all hope in myself with others. And it hurts. I surround myself with negative thoughts in light of what I think I know, and can’t keep them out long enough to breathe. I am a quitter, please don’t follow me. I won’t be there. I can’t be alone. How do I remind myself that I am my own person? Well, I tell myself that, I am my own person and then, I do the same thing the next day. I am not fully confident in everything that I do, but I know my own bounds. So I try again, and this time slowly. Forget baby steps. Everything falls into place in time.