^^^^ Me, in a slightly happier time.

I can’t take credit for this article. Someone else wrote it several years ago and a different person shared it with me, but it remains spot on.

“Ring theory” starts with the afflicted person in the center and then widens the base with each concentric circle. The idea is to comfort inward and complain outward.

Read it here.

A quote from the article:

“Remember, you can say whatever you want if you just wait until you’re talking to someone in a larger ring than yours.

And don’t worry. You’ll get your turn in the center ring. You can count on that.”