I crave that validation that others thingk I'm good enough
Me too. It's infuriating, really. I hear other women my age (middle aged) say "it's so nice to not give a f*** what other people think about me anymore" and while I have some of that, I still can't help wanting everyone to like me. And my husband says "WHY are you always so nice, even to people who treat you like crap?" and... I don't really have an answer. I guess a lifetime of people-pleasing doesn't just go away in a New York Minute, huh?