Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It is a difficult one, if we all spent time reading stuff out of a feeling of obligation we get stuck in a cycle, not only of transactional kindness, but of not having time to read stuff that our heart yearns to read.

I know it can feel tough at times. But we choose to read the work of others. We choose to comment. We choose to engage. Other writers don't owe us anything. And in turn we have the freedom to take our engagement anywhere we want.

We must also be kind to ourselves Is it kind to ourself to spend ages reading articles we have no interest in? It doesn't mean they are bad articles, just not for us. Other people will enjoy them.

I know, we strike up bonds with other writers. And that is great. But we also need to remind ourselves, we can spread kindness without being in the front row of their audience.

You can't be everything to everyone. I hope that makes sense. Be kind to yourself and I'm delighted to hear your friend is settling :-)