Hey Andy. Great post, relatable as well. I too use music as an escape but it’s more than just an escape to me, it is my love and at one point it was my job. I used to play guitar at weddings and restaurants and taught lessons but now I’ve been at school and have recently started a job at a hospital. I still play guitar/sing for at least an hour a day and hope to reestablish myself as a gigging musician soon. Anyways, I have a minor, barely noticeable but *at times* a moderate-severe stutter that has made things hard for me over the years. Making friends, presenting, explaining things, telling stories, and sometimes essential communications can all be difficult for me due to my stutter. I too am forcing myself out there and “faking it till I make it” by basically doing everything an outgoing, friendly person would do even if deep down I’m terrified of my next stutter incident. Although, the more I do it, the less I stutter, the less I worry, and it gets much easier, it becomes very enjoyable even. For me, friendships, gratitude, hobbies, voluntary discomfort, exercise, good diet, nature, curiosity, and humor have all kept me sane over the years. So my bottom line is, I like what you said and think you should continue to put yourself out there. In the end, it is way better to get uncomfortable and stumble through connecting with people than it is to isolate yourself and dwell on what could have been.