Under the influence, you make decisions that you think that you made on your own—but they were so affected by others.

You make them because suddenly in that moment, you lacked conviction. So you ask, what should you do? And you take their advice without thinking is this what I would really do?

So when you finally pull away, you realize that you would have never done those things—you never liked green, you always hated eggplant and you love cilantro, and you love listening to Lady Gaga.

You emerge perhaps a better person, because now you know yourself. But you’re sad for all the days you spent compromising.

Especially since you used to say that you never compromised yourself.