When I was drinking, I divided the world into groups by using labels. I loathed people not individually but by category. There were, of course, people who were in my various groups, but I was the only person who lay precisely at the intersection of all these groups.
I had a profound sense of inadequacy. This was warranted, because I was inadequate in the performance of practical tasks and in relating to others.
I was therefore insecure and placed the blame squarely on everyone else. I was aggrieved and had a keen eye and ear for what I thought of as prejudice, oppression, and slights.
I was misunderstood and ill-used, I thought.
I then became a warrior against all such oppressive groups.
I thought I was noble, whereas, in fact, I was fevered, paranoid, and had a chip on my shoulder.
Nothing changed.
Today (on a good day):
I sit in the background.
I look for the similarities not the differences.
I aim to be helpful.
I sit back into the background.