I know you laughed extra hard during that episode of The Office when Pam Beesly said she hated the idea that someone out there hates her, and that if Al-Qaeda got to know her she’s sure they wouldn’t hate her. This need to be liked doesn’t define me, but it does tempt me and it’s not as simple as just wanting to fit in. It’s more like wanting to know where I fit, which is, if you can believe it, super different from wanting to fit in. I don’t want to be like you, I want to be like me. The trouble comes when I’m not sure if being like me is good enough, acceptable, or approved of by you.
