"For 25 years, I did take my responsibilities as a pleaser of others sufficiently seriously"

This quote by Joyce Maynard speaks with the idea of people-pleasing. For 25 years, she took her obligations as a pleaser of others seriously, likely meaning that she put the needs and wants of others before her own. This might have been out of a sense of commitment, or perhaps a desire to be liked and accepted. People-pleasing can be a challenging habit to break, as it can be rooted in a requirement for approval and validation. It can also be a method of preventing dispute and tough conversations. People-pleasing can be a way of preventing one's own requirements and desires, and can lead to feelings of resentment and aggravation. It is important to recognize when one is people-pleasing and to take steps to prioritize one's own needs and wants.