Post 7: The Draining Life of the Fun Friend

I have been the fun and funny friend for as long as I can remember. Within my friend groups I was always the one that every turned to for a good time and I always had the energy to get everyone going. From going out in public and being social to being in high school at lunch and wanting to include new random people that I’d met into the group. However, no one knows just how draining this can be.

When you’re the fun friend of the group everyone turns to you to get their energy. You are the source for all of the fun and you must always appear happy. This is so annoying! I’m never expected to be in a bad mood and when I am everyone else is as well. I remember one day in high school I decided that I would stay to myself for the day. I was giving hoodie on with loud music playing my earphones vibes. I ignored everyone and didn’t talk unless I absolutely had. But of course, this didn’t work. Everyone kept asking me what was wrong and I couldn’t get the attention off of me so I was forced out of the shell that I had put myself in for the day. From my peers to even my teachers noticed that I wasn’t as bubbly as I usually was. I even blatantly asked them, “I can’t just have a bad day for once” and they all looked at me as if I was speaking gibberish. Although some people may look it at it as everyone cares about you and everyone looks out for you when you’re the fun person in the group, but it doesn’t seem that way for me.

Being the fun friend feels like a full time job that my bosses won’t let me quit. No matter how many times I try to put in for a leave of absence or my two weeks notice, they won’t accept it. But in a holistic approach, it’s beyond draining to your mental health. You aren’t allowed to be selfish and allow yourself to be in your feelings because everyone around you looks to you to be the fun and happy person to drain energy from. I often find myself having to put on a fake act in order to get through the day or push through circumstances when something is bothering me. I have to advocate for myself and heal myself when I go through things because they won’t be able to comprehend how I could go through anything.

So coming from the fun friend and speaking for all of the fun friends in every friend group, this is our formal resignation letter. Accept it!