“Some of us exist in the background of every story. Likeable, not loveable. Needed but not wanted. Present, but not included. Observed, but never truly seen.”—Anne Marrie.
For your own sake, stop trying to befriend everyone you encounter. Not everyone is worthy of friendship, not everyone deserves your time, not everyone has good intentions, and not everyone is willing to put in the effort to be a true friend. Not everyone is genuinely kind at heart, nor are they willing to understand you and where you are coming from. Not everyone feels happy to see you happy, nor do they feel sad when they see you feeling down.
Not everyone is capable of saying, "Thank you," or, "I’m so sorry, I was wrong—can we talk about it? I want to understand how this impacts you so I don't do it again." And not everyone says it while truly meaning it, which is far more important than just saying the words. Not everyone will care about your needs once their own are met, not everyone deserves a second chance—let alone a first—and not everyone practises what they preach. Ultimately, not everyone is sincere about friendship, and you know what? It always shows, sooner or later, regardless of the lies and the performance.
Stop trying to befriend and convince everyone you meet that you are worth being friends with. If you have to convince someone, believe me, it’s not going to end well, and it is not your fault. Some people don’t even like themselves, so there is no point in trying to force it—stop trying harder.
A friend to everyone is a friend to no one. Keep it small, keep it safe, and keep it real. Hold onto yourself; ensure you don't shrink just to become more palatable to others. Don't lose yourself in the process of trying to comfort those who don't deserve it.