I can so relate with this. It seems my family wouldn't let me change. After my divorce they palled up with the ex. I never understood that--made me rethink the "blood is thicker than water" thing. It's how someone makes you feel that counts, like you said. If you're around family who are always looking down their nose at you, what's the point of hanging around them when they dislike you already?

Most of my support system have died, moved away or just lost touch over the years as I was raising my child and was happily married. After the parents passed away, true colors started to show and I wasn't gonna put up with their nonsense and the lack of respect they showed me--at my father's funeral! It's been nearly 5 years and now my mom passed this January and things just got worse--or, they really didn't get any better.

So now I'm alone. I don't make friends well, either. I do travel a lot, so that's kind of keeping me sane. And now I'm on steemit!

Thanks for your article, it' helped a lot and I hope I've made a new friend. (I realize this article is old, but it's so current with me)