I used to think engaging in a spirited back-and-forth online meant standing up for what I believed in. But let’s be real: most internet arguments aren’t about learning or understanding. They’re about ego, one-upmanship, and who can hit “reply” the fastest with a snarky comeback.

If I could sit across from my 30-year-old self—with her high hopes, her exhaustion, and her relentless quest to “get it all right”—I wouldn’t lecture her. I’d pour her a cup of herbal tea, hand her a piece of dark chocolate, and tell her a few things straight from the heart.